10 containers of props for Sound of Music
View(s):There were “oohs and aahs” by Sri Lankans watching enthralled the Sound of Music theatre production at the Nelum Pokuna in Colombo which ends today after a five-day run bringing entertainment to a new level in Sri Lanka. But what was unsaid and unseen is the effort that went into organisation and the volume of equipment that was brought by ship in 10 containers, each 40 feet-long.
According to Dilip Mudadeniya, John Keells group Vice President and Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Brand Marketing Head, the gigantic logistics involved container loads of sound and light equipment, props and costumes. Also involved were a cast and crew of 90 from overseas with a local team numbering 200, plus overseas trips by the Cinnamon team with Nelun Pokuna management to view the theatre performance in Macau and the way the props were set up.
“We want to make Colombo an entertainment hub,” he told the Business Times on Wednesday afternoon as we took a quick, pre-opening day show peep at the backstage and other areas of activity.
At 2 pm, a few hours before the show opened, the Nelum Pokuna was not buzzing with activity or chaos, as seen in most local productions. Rather it was like a routine dress rehearsal reflecting the smooth flow.
Cinnamon Life brought the production to Sri Lanka in association with David Ian Productions Ltd, Company Onstage Ltd and Broadway Asia Company LLC.
The Colombo theatre had to undergo some renovations at the roof level to increase the number of bars to 52 from 42 which was in place. New beam clamps were installed to support the extra weight for the props used.
Mr. Mudadeniya, who is driving Cinnamon Life’s efforts to bring in quality entertainment into Colombo, said they took a “kind of a risk” in signing the contract without realising the implications of logistics support to host the event.
“Negotiations began in September and by December 2017 the contract was signed even before we realised there would be issues. But we decided to take the risk,” he said.
One of the challenges was to fix more bars onto the roof using beam clamps. The Chinese structural engineer who helped built the Nelun Pokuna was flown in and he then certified the extra weight load.
Mr. Mudadeniya and officials from Nelun Pokuna flew to Macau where the production was on show and looked at the logistics support required and the process of loading and unloading.
Luckily the Nelun Pokuna is built for modern theatre but hasn’t been fully made use of. For example container bays help take the equipment right into the backstage.
Mr. Mudadeniya and his team, who are working on bringing more quality shows to the country, found that with the Sound of Music “travelling show” going through the Far East to Europe and back shipping lane which is via Colombo, there was a good opportunity to tap into a show of this magnitude. “These containers of props were moving thr0ugh Colombo; so it made sense to organise a show here.”
(Feizal)