Baklâ
After tearing up the Edinburgh Fringe, a national tour and the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, Baklâ comes to Colchester.
Baklâ: noun, Tagalog. 1) homosexual; 2) unable to reproduce; 3) F****t.
- The start of 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, sparking a genocide across the islands now known as the Philippines. The loss of my ancestral homeland sends ripples through time, emitting a cultural amnesia. A young man struggles to remember his first time after a night out at a gay club and a transgender priestess summons the spirit of her mother to protect her village. Worlds collide in a production where audiences are presented with a kaleidoscope of vignettes, and are invited to weave together a theatrical journey dripping with symbolism. A gut-punch of a show that deploys physical theatre, spoken word and the odd erotic moan.
Winner of the Best Show category at the Asian Arts Awards 2023, an OffFest nomination, and nominations for Best Male-Identifying Performance, Best Cultural Exchange and Best New Writing in Dublin.
Watch the trailer here.
Studio Event
Please note that this performance takes place in our smaller Studio Theatre. If it’s your first visit or you are unfamiliar with the Mercury building, you can find out more about our spaces here.
“This teasing tomfoolery is devilishly smart”
The Guardian
“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.”
The Skinny
“The best physical theatre piece I’ve seen so far… I urge you to catch this quite special piece.”
BritishTheatre.com
“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.”
The Recs
You may also be interested in...
Showing: Wed 22 Jul 2026
Join us for an evening of the freshest comedy as comedians Glenn Moore (Live At The Apollo, Mock the Week) and Bella Hull (Have I Got News For You, Stand Up...
More info and tickets
Showing: Thu 23 Jul 2026 - Sat 25 Jul 2026
When a young couple, Sam and Callum, decide to start a family, it should be a time of excitement and possibility. But plans are derailed by Michael...
More info and tickets
Showing: Thu 23 Jul 2026 - Sat 25 Jul 2026
From the team that created The Night Ali Died and now with upcoming runs in both Taiwan and Philadelphia, A Year and a Day returns to Colchester after...
More info and ticketsGet our Newsletter
