Freedom Rain Speaks is a poetry-in-motion performance celebrating Poetry Month and Philly Theater Week led by Filipino-American Poet, Malaya Ulan, Philadelphia’s current Youth Poet Laureate. (Freedom Rain is an English translation of Malaya Ulan; thus, the title Freedom Rain Speaks).

This poetry performance is a mother-daughter project between Malaya Ulan and her multidisciplinary mother artist, Ani Gavino. They will merge dance, text, music, and writing modalities such as the epic poem writing and the Sarswela used in Philippine Theater.

Malaya will lead poetry workshops at Studio 34 on March 19 and April 2 leading up to the show. This poetry workshop is open to youth and adults, especially to folx who are shy about writing. Willing participants will have a chance to perform their poetry at the Freedom Rain Speaks performances on April 12, 5:30-6:30 and 8:30-9:30. Food and refreshments will be available.

This project is part of the Blade and Barrel project supported by the Paul Robeson West Philadelphia Creative Arts Grant. Join us with activating poetry and somatic movement as our blade.

MAKE IT A DOUBLE FEATURE: The April 12 performances of Freedom Rain Speaks booked another Philly Theatre Week show at Studio 34: The Waiting Room by Danielle Levsky at 7:00 PM. Details and tickets here.

Philly Theatre Week is a celebration of the artists, organizations, and audiences that make Philadelphia one of the most vibrant theatre cities in the nation. Organized by Theatre Philadelphia, 2025's Philly Theatre Week features 50 different shows at venues all over the Philadelphia area from April 3–13. Studio 34 is hosting five of these shows—See them all on our events page.