Batticaloa Poster

‘THE DRAGON’ goes to India

Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s stage play vies for festival honours

The new production of veteran dramatist, actor and film director Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s stage play Makarakshaya (The Dragon), has been selected to represent Sri Lanka in the Bharat Rang Mahotsav Theatre Festival (Indian National Drama Festival).

The festival will be held from January 8 to 22 in New Delhi, India.
It is organised annually by the National School of Drama in India.
Stage plays representing various countries will be staged in the festival.
All facilities, except travelling expenses, for the group of the play will be provided by the Indian Government. Budget of the travelling expenses for 40 members of the group including air tickets and delivery of stage properties adds up to Rs 1,250,000.
A theatre festival has been organised from November 26 to 28 at Lionel Wendt, Colombo, to raise funds to cover this expense to represent the play, Makarakshaya (The Dragon), in the Bharat Rang Mahotsav Theatre Festival (Indian National Drama Festival). The invitation provides Sri Lanka an opportunity to expose Sinhala drama to the South Asian cultural scene and consolidate rebuilding peace and reconciliation.
Following plays will be staged in the festival:
Eka-Adhipathi – November 26 – 6.45pm
This play obtained nine awards at the State Drama Festival including best direction, best actor, best set designing and best make-up in 1976 and 1,507 shows have been staged all over the country including the new production.
Cast: Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Janaka Kumbukage, Malkanthi Jayasinghe, Sampath Thennakoon, Chamila Peiris, Daya Edirisinghe, Lalith Rajapaksha,Chulla Jayawardhana, Vasantha Vittachch, Leonard Cooray, Lalith Rajapaksha, Lal Peris, Upul Nishantha, and others Music: Premasiri Khemadasa
Makarakshaya (Sinhala translation of the play The Dragon written by Soviet playwright Yevgeni Shvarts) –November 27 – 6.45pm
This play obtained 11 awards at the State Drama Festival including best play, best direction, best translation, best music, best set designing, best choreography and best stage lighting in year 1985 and 911 shows have been staged all over the country including the new production
Cast: Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Yashoda Wimaladharma, Dharmapriya Dias, Janaka Kumbukage, Lakshaman Mendis, Leonard Cooray, Chulla Jayawardhane, Warnathunga Senanayake, and others Music: Nadika Weligodapola, Choreography: Jehan Aloysius

Trojan Women (Sinhala translation of the play The Trojan Women written by Greek playwright Euripides) – November 28 – 6.45pm

This play obtained nine awards at the State Drama Festival including best direction, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best set designing, best costume designing, best choreography, best stage lighting and best stage management in year 2000 and 161 shows have been staged all over the country including the Northerm and Eastern Provinces.
Cast: Anoja Weerasinghe, Yashoda Wimaladharma, Meena Kumarie, Neil Alas, Jehan Aloysius, Perny Roshini,Vathsala Ranasinghe, Upul Nishantha, Nilmini Buwaneka,Thilini Weerasinghe, Anusha Dissanayake,Jeevanie Kumari, Deepa Willorarachchi, Kumudu Prashanthi, Thushari Gunarathne, and others Music: Rookantha Gunathilake
Choreography: Jerome de Silva

Article Link : The Nation 21-11-2010 | Eye 

Sri Lankan Representation of BRM

Makarakshaya has been selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 13th Bharat Rang Mahothsav Theatre Festival which will be held from 08th to 22nd January 2011 in Delhi, India. This festival is organized annually by the National School of Drama in India.  Makarakshaya will be performed on 14th January and will be an immense opportunity to take Sri Lankan theatre to the international level. Stage plays representing various countries will be staged at this festival.