Immerse yourself in Filipino folklore with Tipsy Tales’ Lambana, an intimate, multi-sensory and interactive 75-minute theater experience that takes you into the world of whimsical Filipino tales.
Set at the fourth floor of Eastwood Mall, Quezon City, this is Tipsy Tales’ first foray into theater production. The production centers on mythical elements in Filipino culture, creating a curated realm that invites individuals to interact with the performers in the 4,500-sq.ft. space.
“Within the Philippines, many of these tales and legends are getting lost being passed on to younger generations,” says Tipsy Tales co-founder Quina Baterna. “We hope to keep it alive through this highly interactive new format – after all, what better way to learn about folklore than to experience it yourself.”
The multi-sensory space is also made to “trigger every sensory nerve in the body.” In the space, people are encouraged to choose between multiple paths, which lead to different rooms and different outcomes. From being a villain to being a hero, and even a mere spectator, Lambana wants individuals to create their own stories and curate their own experiences.
A diverse and immersive production experience
This ambitious project required a skilled team and elaborate set designs for authenticity. Lambana‘s rooms are curated by Likhain Productions Co., which has worked on projects such as Ayala 360 VR, Goyo and Magik Land theme park. It took Tipsy Tales three months to create the themes, as well as the story, scenes and “emotions” in each room. It then took another four months for the team to build the final design.
The inspiration comes from Filipino-Hispanic interior designs, coupled with indigenous materials from the northern tribes of the Philippines. And because Lambana is a production for all the senses, it tapped Bernadette Lim of BC Fragrances to customize the scents for the different spaces.
Meanwhile, the performers are selected through a long, tedious audition process that tests their traditional script acting and improv ability. According to Quina, the group’s number one criteria is that the actors and actresses’ “cultural fit.”
She adds: “We wanted people who were enjoyable and easy to work with, who had a ton of fun being creative and were naturally driven to create something remarkably new.”
Quina and the rest of the team also looked for people with specific skills, such as fluency in different languages and expertise in other types of performing and graphic arts.
Entering the production, most of the performers are required to research Filipino folklore and undergo first aid and safety training. They first tested in front of mock audiences of various demographics before Lambana opened its doors to the public. Best of all, Lambana has a diverse cast. The crew comes from 11 different provinces in the Philippines and speaks about 12 different languages.
The making of the myth
“When people slow down to take in their surroundings, everything is a lot more interesting,” Quina points out.
The story of the theater production revolves around lola‘s home, as she takes guests on a tour of the place, narrating how our folklores came to be, disappearing and reappearing here and there to simulate the magic. Interaction is a crucial part of Lambana. With productions like Lambana, audiences are forced to make quick decisions, forging their own path in the story-production hybrid.
According to Quina, Lambana is a show that “seeks to simulate the experience that many of us who have grown up with Folklore stories can relate to.”
From shock and thrill to excitement and horror, the emotions of the audiences are what matter the most to Quina and the team. People also notice the little details of the production, such as the flowery smell of grandmother’s house, the notes on the table, the vintage furniture, the slight glow of a magical creature, the scent of sirena bones and more. These are all meant to elevate the entire entertainment experience.
Lambana, for what it is, aims to help from a tourism perspective, as well. It markets Filipino folklore as another outlet we have yet to rediscover. And Tipsy Tales’ new format is hoping to be the guide to promote our culture.
“At the end of the day, Tipsy Tales reminds its audiences that they are the main characters of their own story — both in and out of Lambana,” says Quina. “We are always more than spectators and every day we make choices with consequences that define us.”
All students are entitled to a 15% discount while senior citizens and persons with disability who have government-issued IDs are eligible for a 20% discount. Contact us at hello@tipsytales.ph for additional information.
