Theatre Productions in Honour of Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra
Two new theatrical productions ‘Subha’ directed by Kanchuka Dharmasiri and Lokanthara, directed by Muditha Dharmasiri will be on the boards on September 17 and 18 at the E.O.E. Pereira Theatre, University of Peradeniya. In Colombo the two plays will be staged at Namel-Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella on September 20 (Lokanthara) and September 21 (Subha).
Presented by the Department of Fine Arts and the Department of Classical Languages of the University of Peradeniya, the performances are to commemorate Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s birth centenary. A transcreation of a Rabindranath Tagore short story and Gitanjali, ‘Subha’ is a production of the Department of Fine Arts and Lokanthara, devised along the lines of Classical Greek performances is a production of the Department of Classical Languages.
The story of a young girl who cannot speak, ‘Subha’ shows how she is marginalized by her family and society. But she connects with nature—the river, the green grass, tiny drops of water—at a very profound and intimate level. We decided to take Tagore’s texts and create a piece rich in color, movement, and music. The play explores silence and sound, stillness and movement. The play brings together the genres of theatre and video. Subha also illustrates issues that women in South Asian societies face and illustrates how women’s experiences and aspirations often go unheard. Music direction is by Manoj Alawathukotuwa and Vinusha Wijewckrama.
A tragi-comedy devised along the lines of Classical Greek performances, Lokanthara is a play about the living, the dead, and the undead. Whoever you are or wherever you are, you will have to fight for your rights. But who will listen? Blending the Greek concept with strong Sinhala lyrics the chorus of dead souls delivers the ideal fusion that goes with the sinister, creepy undertone of the play. It is a play that straddles two worlds and moves among diverse eras in
history. Scripted by the Renascor theatre ensemble, music direction is by Pamuditha Manelanga.