Three top-notch plays by award winning dramatist Rajitha Dissanayake – ‘Weeraya Merila’, Sihina Horu Arang’ and ‘Bakamuna Weedi Basi’ - will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on June 7, 8 and 9 at 7.00 pm.
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| Rajitha Dissanayake |
The theatre festival, organized by the Freedom Theatre Group, will mark the 10th anniversary of acclaimed ‘Weeraya Merila’ (The Hero is Dead), which won five awards including ‘Best Play’ at the 2002 State Drama Festival.
The show will also mark the 50th performance of ‘Bakamuna Weedi Basi’ (Owl on the Street), a political satire that has got theatre audiences talking.
Critically acclaimed and award winning play ‘Sihina Horu Arang’ (Dreams Robbed) makes up the three-part drama festival, which will highlight the creations of a writer and director who have consistently used the stage to comment on contemporary social and political issues.
As always a group of experienced and talented actors will make up the cast. They include Gihan Fernando, Jayani Senanayake, Priyankara Ratnayake, Dharmapriya Dias, Shyam Fernando, Prasad Sooriyarachchi, Dayadewa Edirisinghe, Samadhi Laksiri, Gihan de Chickera, Dilini Sandeepika, Samitha Sudeeshwara and Nalin Lusena. Music is by Kapila Poogalarachchi, lights by Ranga Samarakoon and Stage Management by Asanka Kodagodageni.
Special feature of the festival is that the actors playing the roles have been changed bringing novelty to the performances. One of such major changes is Gihan de Chickera has been replaced for the title role played by Priyankara Ratnayake in ‘Weeraya Merila’.
“This is a challenge and also good opportunity to all those actors who play different roles in the same drama they have played earlier. Some of those who played secondary roles play main roles while some senior actors play minor roles according to the changes,” Rajitha said.
Speaking on three plays which carry social and political themes the playwright noted that despite made a decade ago the plays are still suited to the contemporary political culture.
Tickets priced at Rs 1000, 750, 600, 500 and 300 (balcony) are available at the gate. A limited number of festival passes for all three days, especially priced at Rs. 1500 (seating in the Rs 750 section) are also available. |
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