EXCLUSIVE: Dingdong Bahan reveals breaking down during a rehearsal for ‘The Art of Breaking Up’

Dingdong Bahan admitted that bringing his character to life in The Art of Breaking Up became an emotional experience, especially when he tried to draw from his own personal experiences during rehearsals. 

In an interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the actor, who is making his theater debut through the production, shared how he prepared to portray Ferdz. 

Having previously worked with Sue Ramirez in What Lies Beneath and Megastar Sharon Cuneta in Honor Thy Mother, Dingdong said he learned the importance of being disciplined and properly preparing for a role by observing how the two actresses approach their characters. 

“They’re very strict sa character nila,” he said. “Ang hirap naman kasi na bigla ka lang iiyak diyan and magagalit. Dapat meron ka at some point [ng] preparation. Ang kung gusto mong lapatan ‘yun ng may it be personal experience mo in life or kung paano mo ita-take ‘yun into another level, it’s your option.” 

For Dingdong, actors have different ways of connecting with their roles, whether by drawing from personal experiences or finding other ways to understand their characters. 

However, his own attempt to use a personal experience to bring out his character’s emotions led to a breakdown.  

“But for me, nung triny ko kasing lapatan siya ng personal experience ko nung nagre-rehearsal kami, nag-break down ako,” he revealed.  

“That’s one thing I discovered na I have to also control [myself]…Natigil kasi ‘yung rehearsals. I was also guided by direk (Dudz Teraña) na, you know, iba kapag nilapatan mo ng personal mong experience and kapag nakita mo in a snap ‘yung character na ginagawa mo.”

While he acknowledged that painful experiences could serve as a source of inspiration for actors, Dingdong said he is on the process of focusing and understanding his characters more instead of relying purely on his own emotions. 

“It’s very painful but pwede mo siyang hugutan,” he said. “Pero ako, mas gusto ko munang mag-stick sa character ko.” 

In the play, Dingdong stars alongside Jude Hinumdum, who portrays Erwin. With the production exploring different relationships and the circumstances that lead to their endings, the actor hopes audiences will gain a better understanding of the many ways people experience separation. 

“I think dito kasi mas maipapakita namin ‘yung iba’t ibang klase [at] mukha ng paghihiwalay. And definitely it will teach people na manunuod na pwedeng problematic ‘yung hiwalayan nila pero [makikita nila na] ‘Uy, may ibang paraan sana sa [kung paano] tayo naghiwalay'” 

He also pointed out that not every breakup has to be defined by intense emotions or treated casually, as the play will present different perspectives through the stories of its characters. 

Apart from Dingdong, Kapamilya stars Brent Manalo, Analain Salvador, Janella Salvador, and Jameson Blake will also make their theater debuts through the production. Kolette Madelo and Jarren Garcia, meanwhile, will join the show as featured vocalists, marking their own theater debuts. 

Presented by ABS-CBN’s Teatro Kapamilya and PETA Plus, The Art of Breaking Up runs from November 6 to December 6 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.