Colombo International Theatre Festival back
View(s):Sri Lanka’s longest running international theatre festival, 11th edition of ‘Colombo International Theatre Festival’ (CITF) will go on boards from August 25 to September 2 in Colombo and Chilaw. Started in 2012, CITF has tirelessly championed the local theatre scene, fostering growth and innovation. Despite facing challenges, including a three-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, the festival triumphantly returned in 2023 and celebrated its landmark 10th edition in Colombo in 2024, a testament to its resilience and the invaluable support of Sri Lanka’s Corporate sector and institutes. Currently, CITF has left a permanent footprint as a premier festival in the global theatre calendar. It has also become a highly sought-out destination of theatre practitioners from all continents including Americas.
One important feature of CITF’s impact is that, beyond theatre, it ventures further into the Sri Lankan economy. For the last fifteen years, the festival has injected considerable amount of foreign currency into the local economy, welcoming thousands of world-class theatre artists who share their expertise, creativity, and experiences with Sri Lankan audiences. As tourists, these artists and accompanying visitors contribute directly to Sri Lankan economy. Back home and on the social media they become ambassadors of promoting tourism.
This year chief guest of the festival will be Prof. Son Jeung-woo, chairman Korean Theatre Association and the festival will take place daily at 6.30 pm at Elphinstone Theatre, Maradana.
Special feature of this year’s CITF is the felicitation of veteran dancing guru Dr. Ravibandu Vidyapathi and the festival will kick off with ‘Draupadi’, the dance theatre directed by him on August 25. ‘Draupadi, Woman of all times’ is a dance theatre piece based on the character of Draupadi who is the female protagonist of the great epic Maha Bharatha that represents the plight of women of all times and societies.
The festival will continue with Korean play ‘Media Voice’ directed by Son Jeung-woo, Chinese play ‘The Nightingale’ directed by Sergey Grishin and Sri Lankan play ‘A Journey of Despair’ directed by Upeksha Lankathilaka till August 26. On August 27 ‘THE AMERICAN’ (GREECE) directed by Thanassis Sarantos, ‘Shh…’ (Sri Lanka) directed by Vidura Abeydeera and ‘Dummy’ (Sri Lanka) directed by Sarathchandra Walpola. On August 28 Indian play ‘Cliyopatrayum’ directed by Dr. Chandradasan together with two Sri Lankan plays ‘171 Pitakotuwa’ directed by Banula Wijesinghe and ‘Unseen’ directed by AsankaIshan Dayapala will go on the board.
On August 29, Canada-Syria co-production ‘Adrenaline’ directed by MajdiBou-Matar, Armenian play ‘Inside’ directed by Naira Yedigaryan, Sri Lankan play ‘Comrade’ directed by Jinidu Padma Sri Bandara and Randika Wimalasooriya’s ‘It’s not me, someone else’ will be staged.
On August 30, Romanian play ‘Not Me’ directed by Casandra Topologeanu and ‘Swings of Love’- India -Sri Lanka co-production directed by M. Safeer will be staged.
August 31 will be the closing nights of the 11th CITF.
For the second leg, the festival will travel to Chilaw with performance at 6.30 pm from September 2 to 4 at Sudasuna Theatre in Chilaw.
On September 2, Spanish production ‘Vegetarian Ofelia’ directed by Carlota Berzal and two Sri Lankan productions ‘Salitha Sith’’ directed by Gamini Wijewardhana and ‘Puzzle’ directed by Fr. Peter Hemapriya Botheju will go on the boards.
On September 3, ‘The MAMLOK’ (UAE) directed by Ahmed Abdulla Rashed, ‘Macario, starving’ (Spain/Mexico) directed by Ricardo Mena Rosado and two Sri Lankan productions ‘Childhood’ directed by Vindya Ananda and ‘Arabi Kopi’ directed by Sasini Madumali will be staged.
On the final day, September 4, ‘Equation of emotions’ (India) directed by Amogh Kushwaha, ‘THUS, SPOKE ANGER’ (Tunisia) directed by Badii Korbi and ‘The Loops’ (Sri Lanka) directed by Nishu Jayasooriya will be staged.
(SRF)
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