Getting into character
The Mirror Magazine this week unearths the process of getting into character for Best Actor winner -Haseeb Hassan and Best Supporting Actor winner Lakshitha Edirisinghe at this year’s Interschool Shakespeare Drama Competition
Haseeb Hassan (20) who took home the coveted title of Best Actor at this year’s Shakespeare Drama Competition is no stranger to the winner’s podium. This twice over best actor winner isn’t shy about his drive and willful goals.
Pix by M.A Pushpa Kumara
Haseeb started his drama days with elocution teacher Claire De Silva. “I’m very grateful to her,” he adds “I wouldn’t be here otherwise.. She made drama fun.” Participating in a variety of school and public productions in and out of his alma mater D. S. Senanayake College, Haseeb laughs as he recalls joining the Shakespeare cast was by pure “accident”.
Under director Sashane Perera, Haseeb was initially cast in “consecutive non speaking roles” he grins – like an aerobatic Puck in their winning, nefarious take on ‘A Mid-Summer Nights Dream’ at the 2012 Shakespeare Competition.
What planted “the seed” he divulges was watching his senior Abdul Baasith wining Best Actor in 2011 thus setting a bar which he has since strived to achieve. In 2014 Haseeb attained a milestone in his journey by landing his first speaking role as “Macbeth”.
“It was the worst thing ever!” flapping his arms about animatedly he takes us back despite a nomination for best actor that year. “I just kept thinking… if only I had done a bit better”. “I wanted to prove myself” he firmly adds.
His redeeming moment came the next year under the guise of the role – King Lear (yet another happy accident) securing him his first title as Best Actor and D.S. Senanayake College being placed second at the finals.
Haseeb receiving his award
This year, the boys took on Shakespeare’s greatest tragic hero, diving in to the deep end of his contradicting conscience – made worse by the people around him.
Dissecting the journey which led to the end result of Hamlet’s “insane state of mind” – may have been what cinched the title for this young actor.
Although being nominated is nothing new to Haseeb, the real victory “is winning the title” he says. “It takes it to another level.” Haseeb humbly adds that his achievements wouldn’t have materialized without the guidance of Sashane’s direction.
“It’s the level of work you give to your play and how much you want it,” Haseeb shares his advice with other young actors. Take it from him “The dips in my performances only motivated me to do better,” he says.