Baklâ: noun, Tagalog. 1) homosexual; 2) unable to reproduce; 3) F*ggot.

1521. The start of 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, sparking a genocide across the islands now known as the Philippines.

The loss of an ancestral homeland sends ripples through time, emitting a cultural amnesia. But is sex the best cure for a headache?

Expect dishonesty, toxic coping mechanisms, and the trials of self-liberation. Looking for a wild and sexy time?

A daring one-person physical theatre show about how intergenerational trauma takes shape in the modern Filipino.

“Your experience is at the hands of a kaleidoscopic artist” – Entertainment Now

Baklâ takes from butoh dance theatre, performance art, circus and experiments with the form of one person performance. It takes from personal accounts paired with a mosaic of striking imagery, preferring the use of montage over a linear narrative. The show draws parallels between the colonisation of one’s body and one’s country. The healing in the show takes place by turning pain into pleasure.

Flicking between indigenous ceremonies in pre-colonial Philippines, skin whitening adverts and to a BDSM party in London, Baklâ explores how Catholicism has been weaponised to oppress both people of colour and the queer community across the country’s history. The result being the erasure of our cultural identity.

★★★★★ – The Skinny
“Baklâ has a way of keeping you in its dark, suggestive embrace long after the curtains have fallen. This is a groundbreaking piece that is sure to provoke thought.”

★★★★★ – BritishTheatre.com
“The best physical theatre piece I’ve seen so far… I urge you to catch this quite special piece.”

★★★★★ – The Recs
“Exploring huge topics such as sexuality, religion, history in a way that is emotionally engaging, warm spirited and thought provoking, Baklâ will leave your brain spinning and your heart pumping.”

CONTENT WARNING

Recommended 18+ | Sexual themes, partial nudity, themes of sexual assault, discussions of racism.

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Explore more of our theatre and performance programme, and enjoy money off your tickets! Save £2 on each ticket when you book for three or more shows from our performance programme at the same time. Book any three theatre or dance shows and your discount will be automatically applied at checkout. Not valid on £5 Student/Under 25 tickets.  

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We believe it is important that theatre and live performance is accessible to everyone, which is why we keep our ticket prices as affordable as possible.

When you book a theatre or dance performance you will see the recommended price of £14, alongside Pay What You Can Afford options, which are offered at £12 / £10 / £8. We are hugely grateful to anyone who is able to pay the recommended price: as well as helping to support the artists who make the work, it allows us to continue nurturing a thriving local arts ecology.

VENUE: AUDITORIUM, EXETER PHOENIX

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>