TV Times

TV Times

New talents unearthed
The most significant event at the Play House celebration is the grooming of three young playwrights whose plays will be staged on April 2.
Born in the same year 1983, these young men have many differences in their approach to theatre yet there is one thing in common-the ardent love for the stage or the mode of art they have selected.

The three short plays are 'Mata Den Pissu' (I am mad now) by Jehan Sri Kantha, 'Pissanta Mama Aadarai' (I love the mad) by Thusitha Laknatha, and 'Oyai Maai Thaniyama ' (You and I alone) by Chamila Priyanka. All the three plays were selected for the final round of the National Short Drama Festival 2006.

Chamila Priyanka a product of Play House wrote the script for 'Oyai Maai Thaniyama' at a workshop conducted by LCYTO and all artists involved in the production were trained and groomed at the LCYTO. Chamila a second year Arts undergraduate at the University of Colombo joined Somalatha Subasinghe's Play House-Kotte in 2000 and followed a one year training programme in Theatre studies.

The script of the play 'Oyai Maai Thaniyama' is a result of a script development workshop conducted by the Play House-Kotte under the supervision of Kaushalya Fernando and Namal Jayasinghe in 2004.
Speaking about his debut theatre direction Chamila says, "The theme of my play is the barriers and the social restrictions on young people as a whole rather the lovers,". It is an issue that many give no thought about yet the humiliation that the young undergo is so pathetic, says the young director feelingly.

Elaborating on his objective while producing dramas Chamila said, "My main focus is the audience. While creating an educated audience, our effort should be to make a production that would attract the audience".

Jehan Sri Kantha's debut theatre direction is "Mata Den Pissu". An old boy of St. Mary's Boys School, Chilaw, Jehan started his theatre career as an actor under the guidance of his guru Gamini Jayakody. His many roles in different theatre productions included Mekka, Addadaya, Samuganna Hitha Ne, Dhawala Karattaya, Kalu Samanallu, Thunveni Senuwa and Ketima Keti Nattya.

"My dramas are for myself and issues I deal with myself. I have certain questions that need to be answered. I want to share it with some one and the best place to do that is the stage. My objective is sharing my views with my audience and not eliciting response," says Jehan rebelliously.
In "Mata Den Pissu" the theme is man. "He" and "She". She the object between his fantasy and reality.

Thusitha Laknath Galindawatta, the director of 'Pissanta Mama Adarei' is an old boy of Koswatta Jayawardena Vidyalaya and Ananda College, Colombo. Completing his school career, Thusitha started his theatre education at Tower Hall Theatre Foundation.

In 'Pissanta Mama Adarei' Thushitha explores the theme of triangular love involving the characters of hero and villain. My aim in producing drama is to be discursive. "I believe that the production of a drama completes with a proper discussion made with the audience," says Thusitha. "My production is thought provoking and the audience had the task of evaluating the theme. The theme revolves round the conflicts the youth encounters in their inter-personal relationship" he added

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