Challenging our social conscience

Freshly Brewed Theatre (FBT) presents (and produces) Christmas Inc. – an original musical comedy, written by Marissa Johnpillai, arranged by Daniel Johnpillai and directed by Surein de S. Wijeyeratne, at 7.30pm, on December 14 – 16, at the Lionel Wendt. The choreography is being handled by Shanuki de Alwis, with the youngest of the Johnpillai clan – Dominic, chipping in as Assistant Producer.

Christmas Inc. (The Musical) was started by accident in the bathroom of a Singaporean hotel, on free hotel stationery, mid-November 2004. After the first three songs inexplicably caught on in the Johnpillai household, the decision was made not only to arrange and complete the musical, but to perform it that very Christmas.

Many, many sleepless nights later, every word and note had been written and taught to an enthusiastic group of friends. The show was performed twice on December 23, 2004 at the Russian Cultural Centre, as Star Rising in the East, presented by Lost the Plot Productions (as they called themselves then).

Christmas Inc. addresses the difficulty of finding peace amid the frenzy of the modern festive season. The play fuses contemporary Colombo with biblical Bethlehem to present a timeless search for purpose and value in what we do. Star Inc. is a fictitious multinational corporation that controls several businesses in modern-day Sri Lanka. It is owned and micro-managed by Herod, who also rules supreme in Judea at the turn of the First century AD. The performance will be supported by a live band of talented instrumentalists, including the acclaimed jazz percussionist Sumudi Suraweera. Well known actors such as Ashan Dias, Ruveen Dias, Andre Perera and Gehan Cooray are quite liable to keep audiences in hysterics!

Every motley crew of wannabe theatre producers needs a name, and an aim. FBT aims to challenge the social conscience of audiences in Sri Lanka by producing powerful performed art, in particular original scripts. They are a group of individuals with different backgrounds and skills, but who not only share a passion for music, theatre, a good story and a good laugh, but also value doing things with care and sincerity, even if it means going against the grain.

Most shows in Sri Lanka are supported by corporate sponsorship, a fortunately easy and effective way to fund local arts. This Christmas, FBT is trying out something different. In place of banners promoting for-profit companies, they want to raise awareness about grassroots not-for-profit projects that are empowering people in our community. FBT has chosen three community projects that are familiar and dear to them, but not particularly 'famous' among the general public, each representing larger themes of community work; empowering children, women and the elderly respectively. Each of the three nights of the show will showcase one of these projects. Any proceeds from the performances will be divided equally between them.

Of course, this means that they would need to seek other forms of more anonymous sponsorship and fundraising, which is where you come in.

Help FBT showcase these community projects by sponsoring a message in their souvenir, buying their CD titled ‘Buy Back Christmas,’ or by making a donation.

For more information visit www.christmasinc.info or call Dominic on 0773558498. Tickets will be on sale from December 4 at the Wendt. A shuttle service to and from Maitland Crescent will be available on all show nights.