Rekindling the bard
Shakespeare Inter-School Drama Competition nearing climax
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
The Shakespeare Inter-School Drama Competition, organised by the YMCA
of Colombo and the Rotary Club, Colombo North, is over 30 years old.
First staged in 1973, the event is held to promote the works of the
great playwright among schoolchildren in the country. It is usually held
annually in June but due to the security situation of the country, the
organisations had to put this year’s event in the back burner,
postponing the competition to September aka the literary month.
  Around 18 schools, Sangamitta Vidyalaya, Galle, Hillwood College,
Kandy, Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, Holy Cross College, Galle, St.
Bridget’s Convent, Colombo, Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, St. Anthony’s
College, Katugastota, Kingswood College, Kandy,Trinity College, Kandy,
Richmond College, Galle, Ananda Vidyalaya, Colombo, D.S. Senanayake
College, Colombo, St. Benedict’s College, Colombo, St. Joseph’s College,
Colombo, St. Peter’s College, Colombo, Lyceum International, Royal
College, Colombo and Wesley College, Colombo, take part in the
competition under four categories this year. The girls’ and boys’
semi-final competitions were held at the Lionel Wendt on September 8 and
10 from 9.30 a.m.
There was the buzz of activity everywhere with lines being
painstakingly by-hearted, costumes being fitted and stage props being
set in just the right places. This year’s competition includes a mixture
of some of the bard’s most renowned tragedies and comedies: ‘Taming of
the Shrew’, ‘Twelfth Night’, ‘King Lear’, ‘Antony and Cleopatra’,
‘Cornelius’ and ‘Othello’. Four boys’ schools and four girls’ schools
will be able to showcase their talents at the finals at the Bishops’
College Auditorium on September 19 (girls’) and 21 (boys’).
Only five girls’ schools are taking part this year and it is believed
due to the change in the original dates of the competition. Applications
had been sent at the brink of school holidays and with Ramazan and the
Advanced Level examinations around the corner a number of schools and
students had avoided applying for the event. However this did not mean a
lack of overall entries. The hard work and dedication put into bringing
back the characters of bygone years is truly captivating and a delight
to witness. You too can be a part of the magic if you can spare time to
stop by the Bishops’ College for the finals. I will. |
