Filipino voices took center stage at this year’s Short+Sweet Theatre Festival Dubai, as Porkchop Politics became the first and only Tagalog-language play featured in the festival’s 13-year history.
Written and directed by Rissy McGrath, the 10-minute satirical piece earned applause and acclaim during its weekend run on April 26 and 27 at The Junction Theatre. The bold comedy, staged in celebration of the region’s linguistic diversity, marked a cultural milestone not just for the Filipino community in the UAE, but for the broader theatre scene embracing multilingual performances.
Set in the fictional city of Buwis-Buhay, Porkchop Politics follows three spirited women who, disillusioned by corrupt local governance, facetiously suggest electing a literal pig as mayor. What begins as a joke spirals into a biting critique of leadership, exposing the absurdities of politics when public trust wears thin.
The Junction’s Creative Director, Gautam Goenka, described the play as “an extremely witty and smart” production. He added, “As our first play in Tagalog, it was special to see our wonderful community of Filipino performing artists from the UAE get the recognition they deserve. A special mention has to be made of Rissy, the writer and director, who has come a long way in her theatre journey.”
McGrath, reflecting on her work, shared, “I wanted to create something that was both outrageously incomprehensible yet painfully true.”
Presented alongside a diverse lineup of plays in multiple languages, Porkchop Politics reinforced the festival’s commitment to showcasing global voices through the performing arts.
For more information about the festival and upcoming shows, visit shortandsweet.org/festivals/shortsweet-dubai-2025 or follow @junctiondubai on Instagram.
