Filipino theater audiences will soon see a familiar character from Philippine literature in a new light as award-winning actress Eugene Domingo takes on the role of Doña Victorina in Victorina, an upcoming stage comedy from IdeaFirst Live set to premiere in October 2027.
The production is part of IdeaFirst Live’s 2027–2028 theater season, which also features Die Beautiful: The Musical and Teorya ng Mga Tanong.
Written by Jun Robles Lana and directed by Chris Martinez, Victorina puts one of the most recognizable characters from Dr. José Rizal’s novels at the center of her own story. Doña Victorina, known for her pretensions of Spanish identity and her rejection of her Filipino roots, has long served as a satirical portrayal of colonial mentality and social climbing.
The upcoming production offers a fresh theatrical take on the character, with Domingo bringing her distinctive comedic sensibility to the role.
The show’s promotional poster also hints at an irreverent approach to the story, carrying the provocative tagline, “She killed Rizal. Or so she says.” The line raises questions about how the production will play with literary history, satire and the character’s own version of events.
Rather than simply revisiting a familiar figure from Rizal’s works, the stage comedy has the potential to explore the contradictions, ambitions and insecurities behind Doña Victorina’s exaggerated persona. Its contemporary interpretation may also invite audiences to reflect on the enduring relevance of colonial mentality and the desire for social acceptance.
Domingo’s casting is a notable draw for theatergoers familiar with her work across film, television and live performance. Her portrayal will bring a new dimension to a character whose vanity and pretensions have made her a memorable figure in Philippine literary satire.
Meanwhile, IdeaFirst Live’s upcoming season reflects a broader slate of theatrical productions adapted from or connected to Filipino stories and screen works.
Die Beautiful: The Musical, scheduled for June 2027, brings the story of the acclaimed Filipino film to the stage. Teorya ng Mga Tanong, meanwhile, is slated for March 2028 and expands on the fictional book discussed in Lana’s film About Us But Not About Us.
With Victorina, the company adds another production that draws on recognizable Filipino cultural material while offering audiences a different way to engage with it.
Further details about the production’s venue, specific performance dates, ticket sales and complete cast have yet to be confirmed in the reports reviewed.
For now, Domingo’s transformation into Doña Victorina sets the stage for a theatrical comedy that revisits a classic character while leaving room for a fresh perspective on the social attitudes she represents.
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