BOGT Philippines' "13th Of September" Set For Historic Monaco Debut

Acclaimed Director Andoy Ranay To Star In Powerful Reimagined Staging

BOGT Philippines proudly announces that its acclaimed production 13th of September will represent the country at the 18th Mondial du Théâtre in Monaco this August 20–27, 2025. This marks the company’s third international invitation—after Canada (2019) and Germany (2021, 2022)—and the first time the Philippines will participate in the prestigious quadrennial festival since its founding in 1957, spotlighting Filipino theatrical talent on a global stage.

The play is a powerful reimagining of The Insanity of Mary Girard by Lanie Robertson, adapted by three-time Palanca awardee Eljay Castro Deldoc. Under the direction of ALIW and LEAF awardee Riki Benedicto, the production promises a bold and emotionally charged experience. Acclaimed actor-director Andoy Ranay will star as Mary Girard, delivering a performance expected to push the production to compelling new depths. Ranay’s casting is a major highlight, as he brings to the stage an impressive body of work in theater, television, and film—including recent hits like Presidential Suite #2 and TV series Dirty Linen and The Broken Marriage Vow. Joining him are respected actors Lao Rodriguez and Drew Espenocilla.

Andoy Ranay as Mary Girard

Lao Rodriguez

Drew Espenocilla

BOGT Philippines, founded in 2019 by professionals from the local theater, film, and events industries, is an independent nonprofit dedicated to showcasing Philippine theater abroad. Its team for Monaco includes key creatives like Katreen Dela Cruz, JayLo Conanan, Roldan Lozano, and Ces Valera, forming a nine-person delegation. 13th of September will close the festival with performances at the renowned Princess Grace Theater, sharing the spotlight with companies from Lithuania and Morocco.

The play explores themes of betrayal, mental health, and female agency through the haunting final night of Mary Girard in a Pennsylvania asylum. Drawing from past international acclaim in Canada and Germany, the reworked narrative not only revisits Mary's tragic history but gives her a voice—a metaphorical fight against injustice, gaslighting, and patriarchal control. The production’s potent message resonates deeply in today’s social context.

BOGT Philippines expresses gratitude to Fire and Ice Studio, Beyond Concepts Photo Studio, the Office of the First Lady, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines for their support. The company invites those who wish to contribute or partner with them to reach out via Instagram (@bogtphl) or Facebook (/BOGTphl). As the hashtags #sep13mberMONACO and #theaterwithoutborders suggest, the world stage is set for a uniquely Filipino story to be told—and heard.

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“13th of SEPTEMBER” Braces for 2nd International Performance in Germany

After its celebrated run in the 9 th Festival International de Théâtre De Mont-Laurier in Quebec, Canada, “13th of September” is all set for yet another international show at the THEATERWELTEN 2022 on Saturday, 15 October 2022 at the Cultural Center Dieselstrasse in Esslingen, Germany, now with the support of the Philippine and German government, National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater (BDAT). This opportunity and privilege to represent the Philippines fulfills one of the goals of BOGT Philippines to create and produce shows for international theater festivals.

“13th of September” is a Reimagination of Lanie Robertson’s “The Insanity of Mary Girard”, written and translated by playwright Eljay Castro Deldoc, directed by Riki Benedicto, with actors Marco Calilao, Norman Peñaflorida, and Lao Rodriguez who now takes the role of Mary Girard.

JayLo Conanan (Production Designer), Katreen Dela Cruz (Production and Stage Manager), Roldan Lozano (Lights Designer), and Ces Valera (Projection Designer) complete the delegation of 8 who will fly to Germany this October.

THEATERWELTEN is both a festival and an international theater encounter. It is held every two years since 2015 and - due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic - had its first ever digital festival in 2021, which was also attended by BOGT Philippines. This year’s festival will be held from 13 - 16 October 2022 with performances coming from 8 countries: Philippines, Ukraine, Chile, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Germany, and Israel. An accompanying symposium will examine the topic of “Theater and Safe Spaces" from local and global perspectives: Is theatre a safe space?

How does it affect participation in social events?

The Philippines’ representation at the festival does not end on the stage after the curtain closes as Director Riki Benedicto leads two days of Stage Combat workshops (October 14 and 15, 2022) in Sporthalle der Gemeinschaftsschule. Stage Combat is an artistic representation of fighting based on principles of reality using techniques that ensure the safety of actors on stage, all the while showcasing the fight’s aesthetic aspects and dramatic power.

Any play can, practically, be “based on a true story” but “The Insanity of Mary Girard” is one of the few that took real-life events into a haunting and highly theatrical piece. Mary Girard (1758–1815) was committed to an asylum in 1790 where her husband declared her legally insane. During her confinement, she gave birth to a baby girl – unsure who the father was – who died five months later. After residing in the insanity ward for 25 years, she was laid to rest somewhere on hospital grounds, her grave unmarked.

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