A play on media and its reality
Udyaysiri Wickremaratne’s theatrical production ‘Thunsiya Heta-eka 361’, a satirical play on the television medium and the programmes presented through it will go around the country during the month of May.
The play will be staged at 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on May 6 at the Provincial Council Auditorium at Kurunegala, at Panadura Town Hall on May 13 and at 3.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m on May 27 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre Colombo 7.
The cast includes Gihan Fernando, Umayangana Wickremasinghe,
Ruwan Malith, Chamari Nisansala, Mihiri Priyangani, Susanga Kahandawalaarachchi, Rohitha Jayakoday, Kusal Maduranga, Ishara Wickremasinghe and Nayanthara de Silva.
Music is by Lalith de Silva, set designing is by Llewellin
Vanderwall, costume design by Nipuni Preksha Mendis and lighting by Mihindu Madhushanka. Stage management of ‘361’ is by Sumedha Prasanna.
Famed for his earlier plays such as “Suddek Oba Amathai” (A White Man Addresses You) “Rangapem Ivarai” (Adieu to Acting) and “Pem Yuwalak One Kara Thibe” (Wanted A Pair of Lovers), ‘Thunsiya Heta Eka 361’ is different to Wickremaratne’s earlier productions.
The play could be thought of as a drama where the mass media which are supposedly dedicated to bring the truth to the people contributes in concealing and distancing the truth from the people in a society where the mass media are over-estimated.
It also deals with the naivety and shallowness of the people who sit in a chair in their living room and believe they can change the course of policies through engaging with what appears on a TV screen.
The play is Presented by Jude Srimal