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OUTSTANDING STAGE PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR, 15th Gawad Buhay Awards

Reframed through Emma’s perspective, the production approached Pinter’s familiar triangle not simply as a story of marital infidelity, but as an examination of memory, agency, and the shifting power within intimate relationships. Set in 2018, the production opened with a visual prelude inspired by Filipino-American artist Pacita Abad, establishing Emma’s interior world before Pinter’s reverse chronology began. Without altering the text, this recontextualization invited the audience to experience the play’s fragmented memories through a different emotional lens, revealing how silence, absence, and what remains unspoken can reshape our understanding of whose story we are watching. This production featured the works of globally celebrated visual artist Pacita Abad and original music by award-winning composer Fabian Obispo.

Outstanding Stage Production of the Year (2024), Gawad Buhay Award 
Outstanding Stage Direction, nomination
Outstanding Scenic Design, nomination
Outstanding Lighting Design, nomination
Outstanding Sound Design, nomination
Outstanding Performances by Lead Actors, nominations

"This is no ordinary Repertory Philippines production ... It was breathtaking. 

"It's like an A24 art film on the RCBC stage."
- Jeeves De Veyra, ABS-CBN News

"Director VICTOR LIRIO takes a bold approach, weaving a fresh perspective into the fabric of Pinter’s timeless, Olivier Award-winning tale.

“Through this reimagining of Betrayal, LIRIO hopes to expand the legacy of the play by offering a fresh perspective which reminds us that the dynamics of human relationships transcend cultural boundaries.”
- Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez, Business Mirror

"LIRIO's decision to incorporate Filipino references was a bold and refreshing choice, it set the stage for what was to come, hinting at a narrative that would unfold with both grace and intensity."
- Jainor Garcia, The Watch List

“LIRIO’s rework of Pinter’s piece, putting the three second-generation British-Filipino characters amid a highly competitive professional landscape, albeit implied rather than verbalised subtly added context to the characters and motivation for their choices.

“Another ingenious addition to Pinter’s work was also the improvised first scene which transitions the preset where we see the gallery adorned with stone sculptures ... and then into an exhibition of Abad’s works where the first scene opens. It sets the tone of the play, bringing you to a less solid and phallic world and into the hands of Emma.
- Franz Sorilla IV, Tatler

"Perhaps why Harold Pinter’s Betrayal was adapted to various theaters globally. Repertory Philippines’ version through LIRIO is a noteworthy accomplishment for the Filipino audience."
- Axl Guinto, Star Magazine

“The Filipino experience, in the case of Betrayal, is not merely tossed around for the sake of lip service. Rather, instead of being shoehorned into the plot, it is seamlessly woven into the very character of the play’s figures—one that it doesn’t even find the need to explicitly mention.”
- Carl Martin Agustin, Inquirer.net