Sashi Mendis Studio of Drama and Speech to perform "Drama Quintet"

If you’ve ever watched a play produced by the Sashi Mendis Studio of Drama and Speech, the performances, over 90% of the time are a curious mix of originality, reality and large doses of imaginations.  Over 14 years her plays have opened new worlds, invented new phrases and words and opened audiences eyes to the obstacles and darker side of childhood and growing up. 

This September, Sashi and her senior students will present “Drama Quintet”. The show is a follow up of “Drama Quartet” which took the stage a few years ago. Suitably titled, Drama Quintet will find her older students performing a series of 5 original plays, ranging from comic, brutal to thought provoking coming of age stories devised by her and her crew of teenage thespians.

While the school has put on productions regularly (last year’s “Plays Parade” was their latest production) this year  her ‘seniors’ will take the stage alone without the usual mix of age groups joining them, save one very special performance by the juniors.

The writing process started last year and has been a process of brainstorming of ideas, improvising scenes and writing and re working them along the way.  As the ideas flow and change, Sashi admits to many instances where storylines begin in one direction only to move in a complete opposing side once they begin devising.

“Drama Quintet” presented by the Sashi Mendis Studio of Drama and Speech will take place from September 2 to 3 at the Punchi Theatre. Tickets priced at Rs. 1000 and Rs. 600 (balcony).  Tickets can be purchased through 0777009258 or at the Punchi Theatre.

Text by Purnima Pilapitiya and Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara