‘Siriwardane Pawla’ premiers at the Wendt
View(s):Rajitha Dissanayake’s latest play ‘Siriwardane Pawla’ (Siriwardane Family) will premiere at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on January 23 and 24 at 7.00 pm. ‘Siriwardane Pawla’ revolves around a young man who tries to become a popular star by competing in a TV reality show. The young man, Supun, and his family, consider this stardom to be a ticket to achieving a respectable place in a society where almost all other avenues of social mobility have been blocked.
Focusing on a single family’s dreams,the play highlights how the corporate media manipulate society. It also shows the predicament of those who pursue false ideals propagated by the media and how they lose their humanity in the process. The profit-driven media that claims to uphold democracy and harmony in fact gets in the way of achieving reconciliation in a society trying to rediscover its humanity after decades of conflict and destruction.
Rajitha Dissanayake ranks among the top original playwrights to emerge in the last two decades and has produced popular and award-winning plays like ‘Weeraya Merila’, ‘Sihina Horu Aran’, ‘Apahu Herenna Be’, ‘Bakamoona Veedi Basi’ and most recently ‘Adara Wasthuwa’. His scripts focus on burning socio-political issues and have drawn crowds, sparked debate, won awards and toured internationally.
The cast of ‘Siriwardane Pawla’ comprises Jayani Senanayake, Dayadeva Edirisinghe, Nadeeshani Peliarachchi, Shyam Fernando, Anuradha Mallawarachchi, Pasan Ranaweera, Devinda Wickramasinghe, Kasun Chathuranga and Charindra Chandrasena. The set design is by Dharmapriya Dias, music design by Kapila Poogalarachchi, lighting by Ranga Samarakoon, costume designs by Nalin Lusena and Samadara Mabulage and make-up by Priyantha Dissanayake. Shyam Fernando will be the stage manager and will be assisted by Vijith Nuwan and Charindra Chandrasena.
Tickets for ‘Siriwardane Pawla’ are priced at Rs. 1000, Rs. 800, Rs. 600 and Rs.400 (balcony) and will be available at the Lionel Wendt from January 12 onwards.
