A new independent theatre company is set to join the Philippine theatre landscape this August with a production that explores memory, trauma, and the complexities of human connection.

Founded by Chris Abecia, Katrina Gamba, Edith Garcia, and Xavier Tiam, Spike Theatre makes its debut with Jonah, the award-winning one-act play by American playwright Rachel Bonds. 

The production also introduces the company's guiding philosophy of creating accessible theatre while fostering a "Brave Space" for artists and audiences alike.

Originally written by Bonds, Jonah centers on Ana, a woman attempting to piece together fragmented memories shaped by trauma and strained relationships. As the boundaries between past and present blur, the play examines trust, intimacy, confrontation, and the often nonlinear process of healing. Intimate in scale yet emotionally expansive, the work has been recognized for its thoughtful exploration of how people carry and confront their past.

The play received the 2024 Laurents/Hatcher Prize, one of several honors awarded to Bonds throughout her career. Her body of work has been produced and developed by leading American theatre companies, including Roundabout Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, Atlantic Theater Company, Ars Nova, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. She is also the recipient of the Weissberger Award, the Sky Cooper Prize, and the Heideman Award.

Leading the Philippine staging is Edith Garcia. A graduate of the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde's Theater Arts program, Garcia has worked as both an actress and director across musical theatre and straight plays. Jonah marks her second directorial production following Fermata, presented by Benilde Theater Arts' Wideye Collective.

Jonah runs on August 29 and 30 and September 5 and 6, 2026, at Dance Royalties Studio PH, Pavilion Mall, Mandaluyong.

Tickets are now available, with Regular tickets priced at ₱1,000 and Patron tickets at ₱1,500. Patron ticket holders receive priority seating, offering what the company describes as the best seats in the house. Those interested in attending may send their ticket inquiries to spiketheatretickets@gmail.com.

Poster from Spike Theatre.