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A mobile theatre with Parakrama Niriella
 In Sri Lanka’s theatre history, street drama activities
initiated by Gamini Haththotuewegama stand on record. One of his
understudies, Parakrama Niriella came to the forefront in theatrical
activities in the 1970s. He is now a major dramatist and film producer
and telefilm director. Presently he has formed a ‘Theatre of the
People’, a trilingual movement. In Sinhala it is called Jana Karaliya
and in Thamil Makkal Kalari. In a prospectus released in all three
languages, he dubs his theatre as a “Forefront theatre voyage for a new
trend of drama art.” His is really a mobile theatre. Further information
can be had from him by e-mail: [email protected]
 What I like in Parakrama Niriella’s effort and to praise
him is for his attention he pays on ethnic harmony. Excerpts:
“Janakaraliya is accomplishing a special cultural mission to develop
relations between various ethnic groups estranged by the long-standing
war. Make equal opportunities and treat all the Thamil, Muslim and
Sinhala communities with equal respect when conducting the drama and
theatre workshops and all the other activities of Janakaraliya.
Producing and performing all of the Janakaraliya plays both in Sinhala
and Thamil that enables every community to enjoy them.”
But who are the people behind him ? The list is
impressive: H. A. Perera, Dilip Rohana, Ravindra Maritime, Measure
Aberdeen, N. H. L. Rupasinghe, Udula Bandara Aushadahami, U. S.
Karunaratne and Amita Weerasinghe. How about Thamil speaking people?. S.
Nadaraja Sivam (a veteran broadcaster and actor, also in Sinhala), V.A.
Thangavelautham and Joe Fernando.
The pathway of the Mobile Theatre is something
interesting to note, because this group really embraces almost all
corners of the island. The places are: Colombo, Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Yaalpaanam, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Puttalam, Vavuniya,
Thirukoanamalai, Mattakalappu, Amparai, Badulla, Moneragala, Matale,
Nuwara, Nuwara-Eliya, Kurunegala, Gampaha, Meegamuwa, Chilapam, Kegalle,
Ratnapura. Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Tomorrow, March 10,
the Janakaraliya organized drama festival begins and ends on March 15.
The venue is: Nomads grounds adjoining John de Silva Memorial Theatre,
Colombo. The plays to be presented in Sinhala are: Charandas, Andara
Mal, Seethambarapataya and Makararaksha. The Thamil version of two plays
in Sinhala will also be presented. They are: Erukkalam Poo and Mayap
Pattadai. Time permitting, I hope to see these plays.
Talking of plays, I must mention that the Colombo
International School presents Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice
on March 11 and the 12 at the school auditorium. Let’s see how the youth
of today interprets the play The Merchant of Venice. It would be a
worthwhile pursuit to remember one or two lines in the play to assess
the intention of the playwright and his characterization of the major
characters in the play.
Here are just a few lines to judge the rationality of
Shylock, the Jew against whom was racism of some sort was practised. “If
you prick us, do we not bleed ? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If
you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses,
affections, passions?” That’s it for this week. Good reading and viewing
until next week. |
