Teatro Marco launches QTFest 2026, its first-ever queer theater festival celebrating Filipino pride and identity through storytelling

Independent theater collective Teatro Marco proudly announces QTFest 2026, the company’s first-ever queer theater festival, marking a bold new chapter in its commitment to championing original Filipino stories and emerging voices.

Launching under the banner #QTFirst , QTFest 2026 brings together four selected works by emerging playwrights, each exploring the many colors, wounds, and triumphs of queer life in the Philippines.

The festival showcases the following works: 

Dalaga Na Kami written by Mae Malaya and directed by Ivan Villacorta Gentolizo

Actors:

Aleczandra Ong as Klara

Cyrus Joshua Bon as Kristian 

Dalaga Na Kami explores sisterhood between a young adolescent girl who just had her first period, and her queer older brother who laments his own version of pagdadalaga.

Pilar Pilapil written by Pat Javier and directed by Dwyt Geronimo

Actors:

Alfy Gaganting as Amor

Isla Saavedra as Mercedes 

Madi Catalan as Celeste

Pilar Pilapill is a short play set in a Miss Gay beauty contest in Quiapo exploring the different definitions of womanhood through the lens of a Transpinay. Does being a woman have one linear definition? These 3 women coming from strikingly different generations break the archetype of what a woman should look like.

Exsena sa Backstage written by Charles Gollayan and directed by Sey Blanco

Actors:

Leandre Dopale as Lady Gaga

Amber Verchez as Beyonce

Rigo De Borja as Diana Ross 

Isang oras bago ang inaabangang Tribute Night para sa mga pop icons na sina Beyonce at Gaga, hindi lang makeup at wig ang uungkatin ng drag queens na sina Angel at Marina, pati na rin ang exsena nila bilang dating magkasintahan. Sa serye ng mga back to back to back lipsync challenges, may pag-asa pa kayang maibalik nila ang dating saya ng pag-iibigan?

Our Lady of Mama Hello Kitty written by Mara Paulynne and directed by Marco Ghosn

Actors:

Sophia Nario as Lea

Michelle Samby as Rhea

Irish Jane Oliveros as Jane

Lucky Charles Historia as Cashier 

Our Lady of Mama Hello Kitty revolves around a WLW family and their assigned female at birth child, who turns out to be straight. The narrative explores how the family reacts to this situation, mirroring how some parents in the real world often respond when their child comes out as gay.

This festival is organized by Teatro Marco and headed by Marco Ghosn.

Here are the ticketing details:

Set A (3:00 – 5:00 PM)

Pilar Pilapil

Exsensa Sa Backstage

Set B (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

Dalaga Na Kami

Our Lady of Mama Hello Kitty

TICKET PRICES!

QTF Set Tickets: P799

QTF Day Pass: P1,200

Get yours now here: https://paymongo.page/l/qtfest26 

For updates and announcements, follow Teatro Marco on social media.

IG: @teatromarcoph 

FB: Teatro Marco

: [email protected]