Audience push for a novel theatre experience
View(s):‘Meya Thuwakkuwak Nove’ (This is Not a Gun), the first lengthy play written and directed by award winning young playwright Chamila Priyanka will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on August 20 at 7 pm.
Chamila Priyanka
Encouraged by the overwhelming audience response and encouraging reviews following the opening night, the play is sponsored by a group of audience members who came forward to support the work of the young director, Chamila.
The play revolves around a Buddhist monk looking to shed his robes and leaves the monastic life. He has left the temple with a stolen scooter that he doesn’t know how to ride. He crosses paths with a mad man rummaging a pile of garbage, looking for a job. The two set off together, both believing the journey’s taking them closer to their respective ideas of salvation.
A political science graduate of the University of Colombo, Chamila is a product of the Children’s and Youth Theatre Play House, Kotte. “Today the real social and political problems of contemporary society are covered up by extremism and racism. This had been happening since the 1950s but unfortunately people don’t seemed to have realised this,” Chamila said.
“The theatre should not only be a place to provide entertainment but a place where more serious issues are discussed,” Chamila said. Starting with the short play ‘You and Me Alone’ in 2006 which won the Special Jury award for Direction at the Youth Drama Festival and a merit award for direction at the National State Drama Festival in 2006, Chamila since then has scripted and directed several plays. His play ‘Che and Juliet’ which won the award for the Best Drama at the National State Drama Festival in 2007 and won the runner up at the Youth Drama Festival in the same year. His play ‘Come to Play Cricket’ in 2009 was awarded the Best Script at the Colombo District Youth Drama Festival.
The cast, a group of award winning and promising young talents include Mayura Kanchana, Dilum Buddhika, Pramodh Edirisinghe, Anjana Premaratne, Kanishka Fernando and Yashodha Rasanduni. The rest of the team consists of Palitha Abelal as make-up artiste, Hiran Abesekera and LahiruRatnayake lighting, Lakshani Amaratunge, BiyankaHansani and K.V.D. Amaratunge set designing, Sameera Wimalasiri, Chamara Gamathige and Kumudu Wickramathanthri handling stage management.