Yen Santos Opens Up About the Discipline She Is Learning in Her First Stage Play
Actress Yen Santos admitted that she never pictured herself performing on stage, but she is now just days away from her theater debut in The Art of Breaking Up, where she plays the role of Gab, PUSH ABS-CBN reported.
“Hindi ko talaga na-imagine ‘yung sarili ko na magte-teatro ako,” Yen told PUSH. She explained that she used to think of theater mostly as musicals, and only recently learned about the other kinds of stage productions open to actors. She even turned down a friend’s first suggestion to try it, but changed her mind when she heard the production was holding auditions and another friend urged her to go.
Her friend Anna Luna, a stage actress who plays Kat in the same production, also helped her appreciate the craft. Yen said she has great respect for theater actors because of their discipline and the time they devote to their work.
Now going through rehearsals herself, she realized how different it is from TV and film. “Dito wala kang take two,” she said, adding that an actor has to stay present from the start of the show until the end. She also mentioned the many things to remember on stage, such as cues, timing, movements and how each line is delivered, but said she is embracing every challenge.
In an earlier rehearsal visit, PUSH noted that Gab faces the end of a relationship with intensity and confrontation, while Yen described herself as someone who would rather walk away quietly. Her character is paired with Hector, played by Jel Tarun.
The play is based on the late George de Jesus III’s “Kung Paano Maghiwalay” and is directed by Dudz Teraña. The cast also includes Jake Cuenca, Janella Salvador, Nikki Valdez, Brent Manalo and Teroy Guzman, among others. A collaboration between ABS-CBN Teatro Kapamilya and PETA, it runs from November 6 to December 6, 2026 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City, ABS-CBN Lifestyle reported.
For an actress who has spent years in front of the camera, the stage is a fresh start. As Yen put it, theater is new territory for her, and she is learning a lot.
