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| Wednesday, 27 March 2002 |
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Shakespeare Centre comes alive by E M G Edirisinghe
Shakespeare Centre which is in its 13th year of activity is the brainchild of 0. Gamini de Silva. Every year since 1990, the Britisher of the Millennium William Shakespeare is remembered around this time of the year by the Shakespeare Centre Sri Lanka. A non-commercial organisation, it had worked hard for promotion of Shakespearean Theatre and theatre-in-education among children. It has its wings and influence spread outside Colombo into distant places in such districts as Badulla, Hambantota, Bandarawela, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle etc. Workshops, seminars and production of stage plays had been conducted by them regularly for the benefit of theatre enthusiasts of all ages. Shakespeare Clubs formed in schools in various parts of the island are instrumental in organising numerous activities on drama and theatre. This year at the Lionel Wendt the commemoration ceremony opens with a Shakespeare exhibition of books, journals, paintings, sketches and other connected material, and is to be followed by Shakespeare commemoration lecture to be delivered by veteran journalist and media presenter Edwin Ariyadasa. It will be followed by an interschool Shakespeare quiz programme where several schools are expected to participate. This programme is organised specially to create an awareness of Bard drama and theatre among children studying in the Sinhala medium. The climax in the day's programme of this important event is the staging of the two plays producing in honour and appreciation of Shakespeare's contribution to world theatre which has transcended all ethnic, cultural, political and regional barriers. Of the two plays Macbeth will come on stage first in the afternoon and the other play, will be presented in the evening at the same venue. Both these plays are translated and directed by O. Gamini de Silva himself. His introduction to Shakespeare theatre had sprung on his first visit to the Royal Shakespeare Company at Strasford in England as a teenage student of drama. Young Silva was so fascinated by the regal Shakespeare theatre activity that he inaugurated the Shakespeare Centre Sri Lanka to perpetuate the memory of Bard's life and works so that they would last into eternity among the theatre-lovers of Sri Lanka. Ever since the centre was founded, Silva was actively engaged in mainly in the area of Shakespearean theatre and theatre education among the rural youth who unlike the urban youth have no proper access to Shakespeare and theatre. The centre's mission in its widest perspective is well pronounced in the following message it carries to the theatregoers as well as to the others who are interested in arts and drama. "Society is the foundation for peace, harmony and goodwill among all on this earth. Every preject, be it agriculture, industry, arts and crafts, societies or faiths, preach no greed. Hatred no illusions for success. The admissible form for everything is a threatre on this earth, if performed in the right manner, all could achieve peace, harmony and goodwill."
A music CD containing 12 songs titled "Punchi Kumariye" (Little Princess) by Petronella Fernando will be launched at a ceremony today. at the SLTTI. Having loved music and dance from small age, she sang with church choir. She was a past pupil of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. She was also a student of late Lylie Godridge. Presently serving at the United Nations in New York as the Personal Assistant to the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Petronella took an interest in Sinhala songs as a hobby after migrating to US. She is also a member of the UN's international choir in New York. The music for the CD has been directed by Rohana Weerasinghe, Upali Kannangara, Stanley Peiris and Rev. Fr. Don Cicil Kumara. Among the lyricists who contributed to the CD are Ajantha Ranasinghe, Saman Chandranath, Bandara Ehaliyagoda, Sineth Baddage, Sampath Bandara and Vipula Nawinna. Baratha
Ven Olande Ananda the internationally known Sri Lankan based Ductch Monk is conducting a series of guided Mindfulness Meditation Sessions, commencing March 24 from 3 - 5 pm, in English Medium at 49/2, First Cross Street, Off Pagoda Road, Nugegoda. (Tel 812397) The program will include short sessions of guided meditation and questions and answers. It will be ideal for beginners of mediation and even for experienced persons to keep the practice going. The unique style of teaching by Ven Ananda appeals to Buddhists as well as non Buddhists. Most his programs in Europe are attended by non Buddhists who are in search of inner peace. Ven Ananda has been a Buddhist Monk over thirty years. He is among the most popular Buddhist meditation teachers in the western world. For over 15 years he participated in an inter religious dialogue where he gained deep appreciation and experiences of all major religions in the world. This helps him to relate his teachings to persons from all walks of life. |
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Produced by Lake House |
Shakespeare Centre Sri Lanka in commemoration of William Shakespeare
brings Othello and Macbeth, two outstanding works of the Bard of Avon, on
stage at the Lionel Wendt Memorial Theatre on 31st March, 2002.
