The best of Dayananda Gunawardena’s plays brought to life
View(s):Dayananda Gunawardena’s ‘Bak Maha Akunu’ a drama which made a significant impact on the history of Sinhala theatre will go on the boards after a lapse of over 40 years at the Dayananda Gunawardena Commemoration Festival to be held later this month.
The play will be performed at 3.30 pm and 7.00 pm on June 18 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre Colombo.
‘Bak Maha Akunu’ was first performed in April 1963, with the ‘revolving stage’ being introduced to Sri Lanka. Arrangements are being made by the late dramatist’s ‘Nalu Kirthi Sabha Theatre Group’ to have this production on a revolving stage the first and probably the only attempt in Sri Lanka at such a challenge since the late Gunawardena’s original production in 1963.
‘Bak Maha Akunu’ will feature veteran actors and actresses as well as young and talented individuals. The cast includes Jayanath Bandara, Rathnasheela Perera, Sunil Tillekeratne, Janaka Ranasinghe, Indika Jayasinghe, Kelum Gamlath, Tharanga Kumari, Yohan Ranasinghe, Mahesh Amarakoon and Sanjeevani Wijekoon. Pubudu Walpita will lead the orchestra to the original music composed by the late Somadasa Elvitigala.
Costumes are by Irangani and Abhimangala Gunawardena, stage management by Asoka Jayasinghe, makeup by Chandrasiri Rajapaksha, choreography by Prasannajith Abeysuriya,
Lighting by Gamini Wanniarachchi, stage props by Ranjith Premathilaka and Indika Ramanayaka and the revolving stage by Kelum Jayasinghe. Technical advice is by W. A. Shantha Kumara and Kirthi Gunawardena. ‘Bak Maha Akunu’ is organised by Jude Srimal. All seats are box planned and tickets available only at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.