NORMAN RALPH B. ISLA is a young, promising playwright and theater director based in General Santos City. Using his locale and hometown Tacurong City as an inspiration, he has extensively written and produced numerous plays since 2016. He is the founder and the present Artistic Director of the Basic Institute of Dramatic Arts (BIDA) – Gen. Santos.
He had been a drama fellow to numerous workshops and most of his works are staged in the regional, national and international scale. His notable works at recent are “Ang Pagdudwaya,” “Naa Mi Sa Bula,” “Pandemonyo,” “Pan’dalian,” “Si Bidasari at Sarimanok,” “Ang Paglalayag ni Ihsan,” “Ang Pangandoy nga Bahagsubay,” “Ang Huling Lulinghayaw,” “May Anghel Tuwing Umuulan,” “Daang Papunta, Daang Pabalik,” and “Aves of Ardeida.” His style is anchored on the realities of his diverse environment and exploration of culture and folklore.
He continues to advocate classroom theater of local color and folklore elevating it with avant-garde qualities; and had been committed to translate Greek tragedies like “Medea sa Banwa” from Euripides’ Medea and “Philomela sa Iskwater” from Tereus in Fragments.
