"No story in the conventional sense, just an unbroken flow of feeling  as Santos and Magiliw allow us to observe how they free themselves up into a state of free expression. Intense and somewhat frightening at first, before unburdening into joy, then becoming quite a touching tribute by the end to their personal histories and to the late Joel Garcia. So often are we made to think of performance as being subservient to story--but here, performance  /as performance/ is already complete on its own." 
- Emil Hofileña 

Within and Without End is a meta-devised work that serves as the first installment of the ongoing Tekhne Trilogy*. A performance about performers within performers, Within and Without End examines into the performer's meta-relationship with performance, their personal evolution and revolution within the discipline, and various perspectives and embodiments of performance/performers, and the infinite ways they experience birth, possession, reality, and demise in every character (fiction or otherwise) they engage with. Framed as an "Open Rehearsal" as its meta-devising tool, audience members are invited to witness a performer's transformation through warm-ups, improv exercises, exchanging of ideas, negotiations with collaborators, objects, and spaces, and run-throughs occasionally interrupted and further shaped by the director and dramaturg. 

Through the "Open Rehearsal" devise, Within and Without End as a whole also shapeshifts the way typical performers do: not entirely loose, but open enough to arrive at different outcomes with each and every Open Rehearsal, further emphasizing the inherent ephemerality of performance. 

Within and Without End was developed for around three years through the lived experience of Opaline Santos, Serena Magiliw, and the late Joel Garcia as journal notes. As of May 2026, the piece continues to tour around Manila and in other regional areas.  

​

Concept & Direction: Jenny Logico-Cruz

Performance: Opaline Santos, Serena Magiliw, Joel Garcia (as journal notes)

Dramaturgy: Blonski Cruz

Production Management: Justin Ayran

Graphic Design: Phoebe Lina

Production & Documentation Assistants: Nix Vergarda, Lorraine Ramillano

Research & Development:  2023-2026

Performance Period: March- Current​​