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Inter-school drama competition of the Colombo YMBA:
Jathaka stories dramatised
E. M. G. Edirisinghe
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YOUNG ACTORS: A scene from a Jataka story.
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DRAMA: With a view to provide an opportunity to unearth the
inborn talents of schoolchildren and to enliven their interest in the
Buddhist Jataka stories which always give a lesson on Dhamma, the
Colombo YMBA has commenced an annual drama competition.
Children of the age group of 8-18 years are encouraged to participate
in theatre activity, the twin-objective of the YMBA to educate them in
the Dhamma and to provide a stage to display their talents is thus
effectively realised.
National schools
The competition which is open to children of the national schools as
well as those of the Dhamma schools was first held in 1981. Since its
inception, it was held every year with donors making their financial
contribution towards its success. Annually around 30-40 schools enter
the competition.
These short plays are of 15-30 minutes duration. Those plays which
come within the first ten at the preliminary round are recognised with
cash awards while the best four plays move into the final round at which
the best play, the best actor and the best actress are chosen.
The play should be compulsorily based on a Jataka story, and the
religious discourse or the tenet unfolded in each of them, should not be
changed or twisted with a view to frustrate the theme of the original
tale.
For instance, sometime back a Dhamma school from Colombo entered the
competition with a play based on Thilamutthi Jataka. It twisted its
basic theme of student discipline to make the statements to plan an
assault on the teacher who punished the students who repeatedly stole
gingelly from a poor old woman.
What they said in defence was that things have changed from the days
of the Jataka tales. Such vicious and derogatory adaptations to impute
one’s own perverted ideas are not recognised as it is contrary to the
principles of the competition and the spirit of the sermons based on the
Jataka story.
Religious education
The message based on Dhamma as enshrined in the Jataka tale should
necessarily receive prime consideration of the play. Any deviation from
this principle nullifies the very intention of the organisers.
Among the schools competing at this annual festival their will to
participate takes precedence over the competitive sting with which most
of such contestants are familiar.
The organisers while giving every encouragement for participation,
atmosphere of rivalry and unhealthy competitiveness is discouraged to
keep it within the spirit of being made a part of Buddhist religious
education. Therefore, cordial relations and mutual understanding among
the participating groups and schools, there existed throughout the
competition.
Participation in the drama competition is spread islandwide with
schools from Colombo and the remote areas like Kantale, Polonnaruwa,
Nuwara Eliya, Trincomalee making their presence every year.
Enthusiasm evinced by the teachers and the students from the distant
areas is very encouraging specially in the light of expenses they have
to incur in the process. What they need most is substantial financial
support as a form of an incentive for greater involvement in this annual
event of religio-art education.
Popular tales
Despite there are about 550 Jataka tales for selection as material
for a play, there are a few tales which are more popular and make their
entry to the YMBA stage year after year.
For example, Vatu Kurulu (unity), Seri Vanija (hatred), Vessantara
(giving), Mahasara (greed), tilamutthi (discipline), Channa Kinnara
(affection), Sambula (chastity), Guttila (teacher) etc. are very popular
among the school community. It could be because those Jataka stories are
often quoted at sermons delivered by Buddhist monks as they have an
impact on the pious gathering.
The standard of plays appear to be improving from year to year with
the essence of the Jataka tale selected for dramatisation being cleverly
grasped and effectively communicated to the audience.
Some of those talented school boys and girls who made their memorable
maiden performance on the YMBA stage, on reaching adulthood have matured
into popular artists in local cinema, drama and television productions.
This year, of the 51 plays which entered the competition, only 26
plays finally came on stage, of which six were selected for merit awards
which carried a cash prize as well. Then four plays were selected for
the final round at which the best actor, best actress and the best
production are to be selected.
The four plays so selected were presented by the Gunananda Dhamma
school (Mani Chora Jataka), Buddhist Ladies College (Vatu Kurulu Jataka),
Matale Sirimavo Bandaranaike Model Primary School (Kalabahu Jataka) and
Ratnapura Sri Sumana Balika Vidyalaya (Guttila Jataka). |
