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| Thursday, 5 February 2004 |
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Performing Arts Festival back Young amateur performers seeking the experience of public performance and a chance to be rated by expert international adjudicators will have such an opportunity once again this year, at the Sri Lankan Festival for the Performing Arts 2004, a news release says.
The three-month long multi-disciplinary festival is being organised by the Institute of Music, Speech and Speaking Skills (IMSSS) for the second consecutive year, and will be open to soloists, duets and groups throughout Sri Lanka, including the north and east, Directress of IMSSS, Kamini Perera said. The festival is affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech UK and will be open to performers in the disciplines of Music and Speech and Drama. All performances will be judged by two experienced British adjudicators, and will receive certificates, trophies and medals and a special award for the Overall Champion. "The first Sri Lankan Festival for the Performing Arts 2003 was a resounding success exceeding all expectations. The festival proved to be an invaluable tool for children and young adults in their quest for development. This year too, we have made arrangements for the adjudicators to travel around the country to view performances, enabling many talented individuals to perform at a prestigious festival of this nature with the least inconvenience", Mrs. Perera said. Entries for the festival are now being accepted and will close on February 15 for music and March 15 for Speech and Drama. The performances for Music are scheduled for May while the Speech and Drama performances are scheduled for June and July. Applications will be accepted for Music (western musical instruments, solo and choral singing) and Speech and Drama (verse speaking, prose speaking, story telling, news reading, bible reading, prose and sight reading, public speaking, mime, improvisation, creative writing and acting). Public performances are due to take place at 16 centres around the country including Colombo, Gampaha, Chilaw, Negombo, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Kandy, Bandarawela, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Mathugama, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Diyatalawa, Jaffna, Vivuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. The grand finale of this extraordinary Festival would take place in Colombo for the exceptionally gifted participants who will receive trophies and special awards, Mrs. Perera said. Last year's festival attracted thousands of participants between the ages of three and 40. The highest number of finalists was from Kurunegala, Chilaw, Gampaha and Colombo while the highest number of all island winners was from Kurunegala and Chilaw, the Institute said. The Institute of Music, Speech and Speaking Skills is an International Member of the British and International Federation of Festivals, and is licensed to hold the festival in Sri Lanka in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Federation and employing Federation Adjudicators. The Sri Lankan Festival is registered as one of the International Festival in the Year Book of the British and International Federation of Festivals. The IMSSS is an examinations unit providing islandwide examinations in Speech and Drama, Speaking Skills, Writing Skills, Pianoforte and Theory of Music to a set syllabus. Examinations are conducted throughout the year at centres all over Sri Lanka. A Night in Tinsel Town The voice of Jith Pieirs cut the expectant silence shrouding the Bishops College Auditorium, and the sound of trumpets transported one on a journey of memories, a pot pourri of remarkable talent that made my now somewhat aging brows bristle with pride that these were Sri Lankans. The thought crossed my mind that even though kids nowadays are heavily into some epileptic Sean Paul stuff or other creatures that spew expletives and vulgarities, there were many who indulged in actual; melodies! A Night in Tinsel Town was produced and directed by Jith Pieirs in aid of the Society for the uplift and rehabilitation of leprosy patients SUROL.... Despite that fact that modern technology faultered, the stars didn't and that was what mattered. As I set in the darkness, I observed and reveled and let the melodies sink into those dusty corners of my memory. Fifteen minutes of Orchestral Music provided by the Philarmonia players led by Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu on piano opened the show followed by the divine voices of Shenelle Fernando and Penny Ferdinand in solo performances. Menik Neydorffs dancers gave choreography a whole new meaning with Jospeh's musical and Jesus Christ Superstar. Judging by the ovation what stole the show and the hearts of those in the audience were the performances of young Swinley Perera who played the piano and crooned "Summertime", Gihan Coorey a budding soloist indeed, Kaushalya Fonseka who brought a touch of Christmas wishes right in the middle of January with "Santa Baby" and the enchanting Anouk Obeysekara on flute of course. She is a pupil of the remarkable and talented Sureka Amerasinghe. The Menaka Singers were quaint in their sailor collars as they harmonized a medley of Broadway hits. Angela Seneviratne accompanied by the man who makes life spring out of Ebony and Ivory, the versatile Dilip Seneviratne, added sparkle to the tinsel with hits from My Fair Lady and the Singing Nun. The end of the reverie came appropriately with a dance in Top Hats and Tail Coats and the sounds of fireworks. - Irene Senewiratne 'Gabsawa' : The other side of a human foetus by Anjana Gamage The 101st show of "Gabsawa" (The Abortion) stage play directed by Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi will go on boards at the Tower Hall Theatre in Maradana on February 7 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
Speaking about the drama Thilak said that what he wanted to depict from the drama was another side of a social issue based on a human foetus. "The whole show is running in between the two characters of a doctor and the four months old foetus. According to the play, the doctor's aim is to kill the four months old foetus. But the foetus who understands the doctor's hidden aim is struggling for its life and depicts its right to live. The plot has been narrated with these two main characters based on several arguments and other suggestions", he said. The "Gabsawa" play has been first staged in 1997 and has won several awards at the State Drama Festival in 1998 including the best stage set-up, best script (third place) and merit awards in make-up artist and acting. Veteran theatre personality Somalatha Subasinghe has translated "Gabsawa" into English and the script has represented in the final rounds at the Alexander Onasis Foundation script competition in Greece in 2001.
Special commemorative awards will be presented to the artistes involved for the drama at the 101st show on February 7 at 6.30 p.m. The cast includes Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, Saumya Liyanage and Saman Hemarathne. The stage set-up by Koralegedara Pushpakumara and Pradeep Chandrasiri. Costumes by Dananjaya Karunaratne and Jagath Padmasiri. Make-up by Jagath Padmasiri. Music by Bandula Jayasundara. Exhibition of art - for Child Protection Society One and all, we would agree, irrespective of race, religion, politics or class, that children's welfare is paramount and of the utmost importance. They are a country's greatest wealth and our future. Any organization which looks after the welfare of children, in any category, be they orphans, physically or mentally handicapped, abused children or those in any need at all, should be supported to the hilt and treated as a priority. The Child Protection Society has endeavoured, since as far back as 1930, to protect, shelter, and promote the development of deprived children. The Society runs two homes, a Boys Home in Maharagama, and a Girls Home in Rukmale, Kottawa, for children who are orphans, victims of abuse, or from homes destructed by death, desertion or abject poverty. There are about 45 to 50 children in each home, from 5 to 18 years of age. Among the objectives of this Society, are the prevention and exploitation of Child labour, the removal of children from harmful environment and development of the children in their care to become responsible citizens of the future. It has been said that the worst thing that can happen to a mother is to lose her child. It is even worse if the roles were reversed. Children love structure and thrive on love and affection. The Society is a blend of the roles of parent and teacher in their care of children. They strive to enrich the lives of the children their care with culture, values and principles. Children have innocent needs which are easily fulfilled; feed them, clothe them, lavish love on them and one finds that watching their individual personalities develop become a source of great joy. The Society plays its part to bring children up to be well rounded individuals with a sense of their own worth. Children can be emotionally damaged if brought up in a joyless atmosphere; when brought up in a happy environment, they become involved, curious, caring, interested in everyone and everything. Their minds become active, alert, and filled with optimism; their brains are then fully equipped to explore and comprehend all human knowledge. There is nothing that pulls at the heartstrings more than a cry of a child, whether in sorrow or excitement. Organisations such as The Child Protection Society, needs the support of the public very much. The grant they get from the government is totally inadequate to meet the needs of the children in their care. The Royal Commonwealth Society, is collaborating in an exhibition and sale of Art by children of the Homes, and of famous artists who have most generously donated their work to be sold in aid of this most worthy cause. Among them are Nalini Jayasuriya, Marie Alles Fernando, Iromi Wijewardene, Nadine David and many others. It is hoped that all art lovers, collectors and other well wishers will be present at this exhibition which will be held at The Indian Cultural Centre, New Bullers Road, Colombo, on Saturday, the 28th February, 2004 at 10 am. The chief guest on this occasion will be His Excellency The High Commissioner for India, Mr. Nirupan Sen and The Guest of Honour will be Mrs Marie Alles Fernando. Perhaps these words of John Masefield will inspire the public to support this worthy cause. He who gives a child a treat |
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