Forty years of the Bard
The Interschool Shakespeare competition; that hallowed championship in school drama circles will get underway this month once again and this year the competition marks 40 years. “It started out as a measure to encourage students to appreciate and enjoy the work of Shakespeare,” says Lal Withanage, President of the YMCA, speaking to the Mirror Magazine about the beginnings of the competition “The competition happens for the same reason today.”
Lal Withanage
The Shakespeare competition began in 1951, shortly after Sri Lanka gained independence. Thespians Oliver Swaris and Anthony Rayer spearheaded the competition to encourage a love for Shakespeare amongst school students and this was eventually revived by the YMCA and the Rotary Club of Colombo North as the Inter-house Shakespeare competition in 1973.
Over the years students have learnt that creativity is imperative if they’re to make a mark on the judges, says Mr. Withanage. “Some schools still think we want to see pure Shakespearean drama exactly as it was portrayed then but every year we look forward to seeing something new from the schools.”
Last year, for example Girls High School Kandy won the Best Girls School trophy for their kandy-lamissi adaptation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ while D.S. Senanayake won the boys title for their edgy interpretation of the same. Today competition is stiff between schools for the coveted title, and this year it’s set to be no less of a struggle.
Over 30 schools will take part in the semi-finals to be held from September 9 to 11 at the Lionel Wendt. Finals will take place on September 18 and 20 at the Bishops College Auditorium. Excerpts from Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, the Tempest, Troilus and Cressida and As You Like It will be performed.
Scenes from last year’s performances