PUENTE THEATRE

Francis G. Matheu

Residency:  November 2024 to February 2025
 
                      
Francis G. Matheu

Francis, a transitioning Filipino theatre artist, debuted as a director/actor in North America in Theatre Inconnu’s production of Pepe by Malou Jacob in 2023. In the Philippines, he was deeply involved in Manila’s dynamic theatre industry, collaborating with notable companies like Repertory Philippines, 9 Works Theatrical, and Trumpets, Inc. Francis’ extensive background includes appearing in nearly 50 plays and musicals combined and directing and creating movements for 15 cantatas, 11 plays, and 11 musicals including Grease, I Love You, Because, Children of Eden, The Wedding Singer, Lysistrata, and Dancing Lessons. He founded Twin Bill Theater in 2013 where he served as Managing and Artistic Director/Producer until 2021.

In Victoria, Francis directed Vinegar Tom for the Phoenix Theatre in 2023. He was co-creative collaborator of im:print 2024 for the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA,) assistant director for Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival’s Much Ado About Nothing, and Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre’s productions of Misery (2023) and Hedda Gabler (2022.) Currently, Francis is directing Animal Farm for Lawyers On Stage Theatre Society (LOST) and Now and Then for Langham Court Theatre set to premiere in December and late January respectively. 

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A co-artistic collaborator for Bayanihan Creative Collective and a board member of Theatre SKAM, Francis is committed to advancing his career in Canadian mainstream theatre, pushing artistic boundaries to reach broader international audiences. Francis holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Victoria.

Pepe is a historical mono-drama with a universal message that portrays the Spanish colonization and oppression of the Philippines during the late 1800s. As an artist of colour navigating his identity in Victoria, Francis harnessed the power of theatre to uplift the Filipino community by fostering cross-continental and cross-cultural artistic collaborations through Pepe. The production’s positive reception, along with the fact that only a small fraction of Victoria’s Filipino migrant and Canadian communities had the chance to see it, has motivated Francis to explore a restaging and potential tour of the play. 

During his conVERGE Residency, Francis will reimagine Pepe and explore how to innovate the production’s creative elements to suit the needs of a touring production. Francis' aim is to restage Pepe as a three-hander and to incorporate video projection.

"conVERGE will be instrumental in helping me reach more Filipino and Canadian audiences across the country. As the third largest migrant group in Canada, Filipinos make significant contributions that enrich the nation’s diverse international community. This residency will be pivotal in providing the opportunity to engage with and celebrate the Filipino heritage on a broader scale, fostering greater cultural understanding and connection."

                                                                                Francis G. Matheu

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