QUEZON CITY, Philippines — At a time when Filipino theater is thriving across the country, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) proudly unveils one of the most anticipated theatrical events of 2026: “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live Sa Cheter!” a fearless, hilarious, and razor-sharp evolution of a franchise that has defined satire across film, digital, and now live theater.

Headlined by Eugene Domingo, the franchise takes a bold leap from screen to stage in this highly anticipated fourth installment.

From A Cult Classic to Cultural Touchstone

What began in 2011 as a groundbreaking independent film has evolved into a multi-platform cultural phenomenon. The original Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank captured the indie film boom, satirizing the industry’s fixation on “poverty porn” and its pursuit of international acclaim. Its sequel skewered mainstream romantic comedies, while its third installment examined historical revisionism in the digital age.

Now, the franchise steps into live performance, turning its lens toward Philippine theater.

True to its DNA, the series remains a satire with purpose. “Septic Tank has always been about satirizing institutions,” shares playwright Chris Martinez. “This time, it is about the state of Philippine theater, where it is, and where it’s going.”

For director Maribel Legarda, this staging is not replication but transformation. “Film and theater speak different languages. What excites me is how something familiar can evolve and find new meaning in liveness.” She adds, “In theater, ‘live’ is not just a descriptor. It is a condition. It breathes, it trembles, it risks failure, and in doing so, it allows for discovery.”

A Mirror to a “Golden Age”

The arrival of Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4 comes at a pivotal moment. Widely described as a “golden age” for Philippine theater, recent years have seen a surge in productions and audiences, bringing with it new challenges for the industry.

“It’s exciting, but it’s also a good time to analyze,” says Chris Martinez. “Is it really a golden age? There is good, there is bad, and maybe this play can offer a clearer perspective on the power of theater.”

Legarda underscores the urgency of live performance in today’s content-saturated landscape. “When we laugh, we let our guard down and sometimes recognize uncomfortable truths. That is where comedy becomes a mirror.”

In this sense, Septic Tank 4 is both a celebration and a commentary, a funny, self-aware take on an art form that is vibrant, ever-shifting, and not without its own “sh*t.”

A Powerhouse Collaboration

Sharing the stage with Eugene Domingo is an exceptional lineup of theater-makers, including Melvin Lee, Andoy Ranay, Meann Espinosa, JC Santos, Stella Cañete-Mendoza, Joshua Lim So, and Marlon Rivera, alongside a vibrant PETA ensemble: Ron Alfonso, Kiki Baento, Roi Calilong, Jay Cortez, Nyla Festejo, James Lanante, Carlon Matobato, Eli Namoc, Reggie Ondevilla, Air Paz, and Ada Tayao.

Guided by the vision of Maribel Legarda and written by Chris Martinez, the production is brought to life by a dynamic creative team including: Assistant Director Johnnie Moran; Set and Costume Designer Gino Gonzales; Deputy Costume Designer Martha Cruz; Assistant Set Designer Leslie Centeno; Lighting Designer Barbie Tan-Tiongco; Sound and Music by Angel Dayao; Lyricist Michelle Ngu Nario; Choreographer Raflesia Bravo; and Video Design and Mapping by Bene Manaois.

Theater About Theater—Bold, Daring, Unmissable

Structured as a “play within a play,” Septic Tank 4 explores the process of theater-making, with actors portraying heightened versions of themselves and blurring the line between reality and performance. It is irreverent and unapologetically meta, filled with humor, spectacle, and playful commentary.

In a time of endless content and streaming options, Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4 serves as a reminder of what live theater uniquely offers: the thrill of immediacy, shared laughter, and the magic of experiencing a story unfold in real time. It reminds us that live theater is personal, powerful, and can only be experienced in person.

As Legarda puts it, “This production is an invitation: to laugh, to reflect, and to engage.” With its fearless humor and powerhouse ensemble, the show invites audiences to think, respond, and rediscover the power of live theater.

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live Sa Cheter! will run for 50 shows from June 19 to August 16, 2026, at the PETA Theater Center. Matinee shows are at 2:00 pm, evening shows at 7:30 pm.

Ticket prices are P3,500 (VIP), P2,800 (Orchestra and Balcony Center), P2,500 (Orchestra Side), and P1,800 (Balcony Side).

For more updates, follow @petatheater on social media.

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ABOUT PETA THEATER

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is a non-profit organization and a respected institution in Philippine theater. For over five decades, PETA Theater has been at the forefront of developing Philippine theater arts, producing plays that tackle social issues and promote cultural awareness. PETA Theater is committed to using theater as a tool for education, social change, and community development, nurturing both artists and audiences.

ABOUT ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK 4

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank is a critically acclaimed Filipino satire created by Chris Martinez, first released as a film in 2011. It follows a group of filmmakers attempting to create an “award-winning” poverty porn movie, exposing the absurdities, pretensions, and ethical contradictions within the local film industry. Anchored by the breakout performance of Eugene Domingo, the film became a cultural phenomenon for its sharp humor, meta storytelling, and fearless critique of how Filipino stories are packaged for both local and international audiences.

The franchise continued with Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2, which turned its focus to the excesses and formulas of mainstream commercial cinema, and Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken, which tackled historical narratives and revisionism—satirizing how history is shaped, distorted, and performed for contemporary audiences.

“Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live Sa Cheter!” marks the franchise’s evolution into live theater. This time, it turns its lens on the stage itself—examining the chaos, contradictions, and creative tensions of contemporary theater-making, while continuing the series’ signature tradition of sharp, self-aware cultural critique.

SHOW DETAILS

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live Sa Cheter!

Show dates: June 19 – August 16, 2026

Show times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Venue: PETA Theater Center, New Manila, Quezon City

Ticket Prices

VIP – ₱ 3,500

Orchestra Center – ₱ 2,800

Orchestra Side – ₱ 2,500

Balcony Center – ₱ 2,800

Balcony Side – ₱ 1,800

Tickets will be available via TicketWorld at bit.ly/SepticTank4Tickets or through our showbuyers: http://bit.ly/SepticTank4Showbuyers

LIST OF CAST

“As Themselves”

Eugene Domingo

Melvin Lee

Andoy Ranay

Meann Espinosa

JC Santos

Stella Cañete-Mendoza

Joshua Lim So

Marlon Rivera

Ensemble

Ron Alfonso

Kiki Baento

Roi Calilong

Jay Cortez

Nyla Festejo

James Lanante

Carlon Matobato

Eli Namoc

Reggie Ondevilla

Air Paz

Ada Tayao

LIST OF ARTISTIC STAFF

Director: Maribel Legarda

Playwright: Chris Martinez

Assistant Director: Johnnie Moran

Set and Costume Designer: Gino Gonzales

Deputy Costume Designer: Martha Cruz

Assistant Set Designer: Leslie Centeno

Lighting Designer: Barbie Tan-Tiongco

Sound and Music: Angel Dayao

Lyricist: Michelle Ngu Nario

Choreographer: Raflesia Bravo

Video Design and Mapping: Bene Manaois

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