Metro Diaries

Juan Gonzales is a Filipino migrant and multi-disciplinary theatre-maker based in Dubai. He began his artistic journey in the Philippines, where he studied and practiced theater, learning early on that art must engage with social issues. This belief continues to inform his work today.

Juan is a co-founder of +63Kolektib, and directed Ang Pambansang Litanya ng mga Inang Wala sa Bayan (The National Litany of Mothers Away from the Motherland), Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang sa UAE (Tales of Grandma Basyang in the UAE), and Metro Diaries. By day (and sometimes until late night), he is a travel retail professional.

Jomel Duran Reyes is a Theatre and performance-maker based in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to promoting Filipino culture through the lens of the migrant experience. He is the co-founder of +63Kolektib, an all-Filipino theatre and performance group in the UAE that provides a platform for Filipino artists in the region.

Since 2018, Jomel has produced and contributed to numerous performance projects across both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including Pambansang Litanya ng mga Inang Wala sa Bayan (National Litany of Mothers Away from the Motherland) and the Tipon: Artists Round Up Series, among others.

His most recently concluded project, as a producer, was the December 2023 production of Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang (Stories of Lola Basyang), a cherished Filipino literary classic. This production reimagined the tales through the lens of Filipino migrant and second-generation experiences, exploring themes of identity, heritage, and belonging.

Jomel is also a proud member of the inaugural cohort of the NYU Abu Dhabi and The Arts Center’s Numoo Arts Program, where he further developed his knowledge in performance and arts leadership.

Trixie Danielle is a UAE-based client manager in the learning and development sector by day, and a multidisciplinary artist, always. Her creative work delves in the themes of migration, identity, and belonging, expressed through theatre, poetry, and storytelling. With a particular focus on the Filipino diaspora, her art fosters cross-cultural connection and collective reflection, reimagining personal and communal memory in the pursuit of shared narrative and creative collaboration.

A proud alumna of USLS Maskara Theater Ensemble, Trixie has performed on stages such as the Black Box Theater for Hekayah 2024 and the Theater of Digital Arts (ToDA) for Sulyap. She is a 2024 Numoo Fellow at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi.

As a core member and secretary (2025–2027) of TRIBE Creatives, Trixie was the lead writer behind Sulyap, a production brought to life in partnership with the Emirates Literature Foundation. Her work with +63Kolektib includes co-writing for Metro Diaries, a poignant exploration of migrant journeys, and reimagining classic Filipino folktales in Ang Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. She also collaborated with artist Robert de Guzman on the Museum of Migration and Memory, an archival performance project.

Beyond the stage and page, you can find her hiking, running, or throwing discs on the field playing ultimate frisbee.

Malavika Suresh is a spoken word artist, writer and academic based in Dubai, where she was born and raised. In her work, she explores mental health and the nuanced relationship an individual has with themselves.

As a poet, she is a performer, host and curator. Her work has been featured in art and cultural programs across the UAE. As an academic, her papers in politics and philosophy have been featured in international conferences.

As a writer, her recent work includes publications in Women Writing Co and Sunday Mornings at the River, and her debut play, Eat Your Feelings. With a passion for various forms of writing, she actively works towards blending different disciplines and practices to create holistic conversations.

Rei Co is a 19-year-old professional dancer and a proud second-generation migrant currently based in the UAE. She has been dancing since she was six years old, and by eight, she began training with Sima Dance Company, where she’s now a member. She launched her professional career at twelve, and by thirteen, she was already teaching contemporary and hip-hop at Sima Performing Arts—something she still does today with a lot of passion.

Over the years, she has performed on stages like the Dubai Opera, the amphitheater at Expo 2020, and NYUAD’s Black Box and Red Theaters, as well as internationally with Sima Dance Company. She also created original works like INA, which was deeply personal and dedicated to her mother, and LAYAG, which she presented for the Sharjah Art Foundation’s April Acts Program.

Most recently, she’s had the pleasure of working with +63Kolektib for Metro Diaries. Her time with the collective has been incredibly welcoming and full of energy—every rehearsal feels alive. It has been so inspiring to witness everyone’s growth, including her own. Rei has been diving into both movement creation and movement direction, and has learned so much throughout the process. Being part of Metro Diaries and collaborating with such a passionate and evolving group of artists has been a refreshing and enriching chapter in her journey.

BJ came to the UAE out of spontaneity in his early 20s. Since then, he has thrived in different industries—from the airport to a waterpark, and eventually as a corporate executive.

A few years ago, he watched +63Kolektib’s first show, and it sparked something in him. When BJ saw a post looking for cast and crew, he took the leap—it felt like the right time to explore a new creative space. After performing in one show, here he is—challenged, but enjoying the crew life.