Moro Moro musical reimagines the Philippine komedya tradition with a Filipino-Australian cast in Sydney

MORO MORO: The Musical, an English-language take on the Philippine komedya tradition with a Filipino-Australian cast, completed a three-performance season at Darling Quarter Theatre in Sydney on 24 and 25 October.

MORO MORO: The Musical, an English-language reimagining of a centuries-old Philippine theatrical tradition, completed its three-performance season at Darling Quarter Theatre in Darling Harbour, Sydney, on 24 and 25 October, The Philippine Times reported. The production brought together Filipino-Australian performers and formed part of celebrations marking 80 years of Filipino-Australian friendship.

Presented in partnership with Lakas Filipina Inc. and the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), the project began as an initiative by FILCCA Vice President for Youth Affairs Jenina Lui, who sought to engage younger Filipino-Australians through a culturally meaningful production. The musical was created by Glenice Lui and Rolmar Baldonado. Baldonado served as director, scriptwriter and songwriter, while Glenice Lui was producer, project director, casting director and co-writer.

A komedya with three kingdoms

Moro-moro, also known as komedya, is traditionally performed during Philippine town fiestas and community celebrations, with stories involving royalty, romance, battles, rivalry and moral conflict. Drawing on traditional komedya scripts including Prinsipe Rodante, Baldonado and Glenice Lui set the story in a fictional Philippine setting with three kingdoms representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It centres on Princess Miramar of Mindanao and Prince Leandro of Luzon, whose romance challenges longstanding rivalries between their kingdoms.

"Moro-moro is not a relic trapped in amber; it is a tradition with memory and space to grow, to breathe, to change."

Baldonado said those words about the tradition, adding that the production was intended to preserve its spirit while allowing it to evolve. The creative team chose English to make the story more accessible to younger Filipino-Australians and audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds. Darling Harbour's event listing likewise described the show as inviting both Filipino and non-Filipino audiences.

The production featured 15 original songs composed by Baldonado, including We Meet Again, Arrogance and Envy, War Has Come, Love Lights the Way and Stronger, Together. Writer Dondon Bales, reviewing the show, wrote: "The look of the show is its strongest part," pointing to split-stage effects, regional colour schemes and costumes, and noted the inclusion of tinikling and pagmamano.

Opening night

The musical opened with an evening premiere on Saturday, 24 October, followed by afternoon and evening performances on Sunday, 25 October. Opening night was attended by dignitaries and community leaders including Philippine Ambassador to Australia Antonio A. Morales, Philippine Consul General in Sydney Greg Marie C. Mariño, FILCCA President Roxanne Sarthou and Lakas Filipina Inc. President Elsa Collado.

The organisers recruited performers through community networks and Filipino events across Sydney, sourced traditional scripts from overseas, and sought feedback from the Philippine Consulate General on cultural and political sensitivities, according to The Philippine Times.

Subscribe to newsletter