ILOILO CITY – The University of San Agustin (USA) in this city is hosting this year's Asian Youth Theatre Festival (AYTF) 2023.
The AYTF 2023 will bring together theater arts groups from 13 Asian countries – Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam from November 22 to 26.
THEATER professionals (from right) Eric Divinagracia, Claire Devine, Nikki Cimafranca, and Ted Fernandez Tac-an discuss preparations for the Asian Youth Theatre Festival hosted by the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
Eric Divinagracia, artistic director of the USA Little Theater, said hosting AYTF 2023 is part of the university’s 120th anniversary celebration.
Founded in 2016 by Claire Devine, AYTF was conceptualized to bring together a network for theater art professionals and groups in Asia.
AYTF International Relations Director Nikki Cimafranca said Iloilo City was chosen as it is known as the “City of Love” which aligns with the AYTF core aim in promoting passion for theater arts.
The AYTF will resume physically this year after being cancelled by the pandemic in 2020 and an online theater festival in 2021.
The week-long festival will have also workshops and performances.