Musical Theatre for the Family in Tangalle
View(s):Somalatha Subasinghe’s Lanka Children’s and Youth Theatre Foundation or popularly known as Play-House Kotte in association with the Committee for the Development of Art Appreciation by Children in Tangalle present Musical theatre for the family at Tangalle Town Hall from March 12 to 14. This is the first time in Tangalle a festival of theatre for children is going to take place.
On March 12 ‘Punchi Apata Den Therei’ (We Know it Now) and ‘Toppi Welenda’ (The Hat seller), on March 13 ‘Himakumariya’ (Snowwhite) and on March 14 ‘Vikurthi’ (Distortion) will go on boards at 8.30 am, 11.30 am and 3.30 pm. This festival is also in honour of Mrs Subasinghe’s commitment to Sri Lankan theatre and her contribution to the enhancement of the Sri Lankan child’s imagination, for over five decades.
‘Punchi Apata Den Therei’ and ‘Toppi Welenda’ are based on well-known folk stories and are produced as musicals and in the adaptations, new characters and situations have been incorporated particularly to communicate with the Sri Lankan children. The production style of the plays has been developed so as to give the young audiences as well as the whole family an aesthetic journey of entertainment. The plays provide the opportunity for an intellectual and entertaining discourse with children. Both plays have been performed at international children’s theatre festivals in France, Bangladesh and South Korea and have been toured in India and Australia.
‘HImakumariya’ is based on the original classic – Snow white and Seven Dwarfs and it has been masterfully localised and recreated within the Sri Lankan fairy tale tradition. With a haunting and enchanting original sound track, lots of songs and dance, dark forests, timid fairies, funny dwarfs, jealous stepmothers and anxious mirrors which would give foods to child’s imagination.
In addition to the beauty and power of the fairy tale coming alive in front of your eyes, Hima Kumariya is also an educative and important piece of theatre for children of our times to see. Vikurthi (Distortion) is a satirical exposure of hapless generation of youth whose lives were dominated by incessant struggle between the parents’ aspirations and the youth’s abilities and preferences.
All plays are written and directed by the theatre legend, Somalatha Subasinghe and they illuminate their creator’s vision of educating and nurturing the children and youth of this country through the medium of theatre to be humane and compassionate beings.Music for plays is by M.R. Chulasinghe.
The cast comprises Kaushalya Fernando, Prasannajith Abeysuriya, Wickrama Seneviratne, Mayura Perera, Sulochana Weerasinghe, Dilum Buddhika, Geetha Alahakoon, Dasun Pathirana, Pramod Edirisinghe, Dilip Kumara, Thilina Perera, Palitha Abeyratne, Yashodha Rasanduni, Kumudu Wickramathanthri and Rumali Chmathka.
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