The young dramatists from Janakaraliya are to commemorate their departed teachers and well-known playwrights Gamini Haththotuwegama, Dhamma Jagoda and H. A. Perera at 6.30 pm on January 4 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo.
A dedicatory programme is included an inaugural commemorative lecture to honour the late dramatists and theatrical performances by young artistes from Janakaraliya.
The lecture delivered by the veteran poet and literary scholar Ariyawansha Ranaweera is to portray the invaluable services rendered to the Sri Lankan theatre by late dramatists and their efforts to ensure development and continuity of Sri Lankan drama by infusing a new generation of dramatists into the Sri Lankan theatre.
The lecture will be followed by two plays ‘Porisadaya’ and ‘Payanihal’. ‘Porisadaya’ is an adaptation of Anton Chekov’s drama ‘The Boor’ which was translated into Sinhala by Professor Tissa Kariyawasam. Late Dhamma Jagoda produced the drama originally in 1968. The new version of ‘Porisadaya’ was directed by Palitha Abeylal Dharmasena. Characterization is done by Ronika Chamalee, Suneth Shanthapriya and Rasaiya Lohanathan.
‘Payanihal’ is the Tamil translation of ‘Kora Saha Andaya’ written by Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja in 1971. It was produced by late Dhamma Jagoda in the same year which enjoyed a massive audience response. ‘Payanihal’, directed by Ronika Chamalee and Selvaraj Leelawathie, has been selected to represent Sri Lanka at the New Delhi International Drama Festival 2012.
It is played by Thiyagaraja Shivaneshan and Rasaiya Lohanathan. Stage management and costumes are by Inoka Lankapura. Ajantha Shanthakumar is handling the stage lightings for both dramas. ‘Payanihal’ drama will be included with Sinhala and English subtitles. |
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