Shakespearean Challenge 2009

'Shakespearean Challenge 2009' is a unique project initiated by the Shakespeare Centre Sri Lanka, with the objective of promoting Shakespearean theatre among school children in our country.

This program consists of five different competitions featuring Drama, Oration, Essay writing, Shakespeare translation as well as the inter school quiz competition. All these competitions are completely based on the 37 plays written by William Shakespeare. This program is therefore an opportunity for students representing schools in Sri Lanka to compete with one another based on their knowledge of Shakespearean dramatic creations. This also provides an open stage for students to impress their skills by practically applying their knowledge in performance.

The inter school quiz will be designed and presented not merely to encourage competition. Instead, it will focus on involving students in a process of exploring Shakespeare's dramatic works. Students participating in this quiz will be expected to maintain a very basic understanding of all Shakespearean plays. They are also required to possess a general understanding of the characteristic features of Shakespearean theatre as well as the most popular, recurring themes that are to be found in Shakespearean plays.

The primary objective of this Shakespeare quiz is to provide an educational experience for students through healthy competition. The drama competition of Shakespearean Challenge 2009 will feature 20 minute performances of Shakespearean plays.

In order to select the best drama performance, this competition will zoom in on the performances of each participating student and will scrutinize the ability of these students to portray the characters and the depth of the play most meaningfully. The drama that will eventually triumph in this competition can at this point be perceived as a worthy attempt by these young students to present thought provoking theatre. The oration and essay competitions will be open to all students representing a school to speak/write on any topic concerned with Shakespearean theatre.

Students are hereby advised and encouraged to select a topic that will allow them to express an opinion on Shakespearean theatre in general or a particular subject within the sphere. The Shakespeare translation competition is a unique feature in this event which will provide students interested in script writing with an opportunity to stretch their writing skills towards a new boundary. Participants can select a part of any Shakespearean play and translate it to either Sinhala or Tamil. Best translations will be selected for Tamil medium and Sinhala medium separately.

Shakespearean Challenge 2009 will commence on the February 23 at the Sudharshi Institute with the qualifying rounds of the Drama, Oration and Quiz Competitions. The drama competition will take place on February 23 and 27 while the oration and quiz competitions will be hosted on the February 24 and 25 respectively.

Hereby, more than 20 schools from around the country will compete to qualify for the semi finals in each of these competitions which will ultimately lead them towards the Shakespeare Challenge Trophy for 2009.

The closing dates for the essay and translation competitions have also been informed as the February 28. Shakespearean Challenge 2009 will conclude with the Finals and awards ceremony which will be held during April, which is also the birth month of the bard of Avon.

William Shakespeare is arguably the most celebrated play write the world has ever known. For centuries, Shakespearean theatre has found a permanent place in the realm of thought provoking entertainment and it continuous to mesmerize people in all communities around the world with its captivating, philosophical creations. What Shakespeare has left the world with is a magnificent collection of philosophical rhetoric, deeply exploring life and human relationships as much as it dwells into the 'undiscovered country' that 'we know not of'.

The insightful education that is encapsulated in Shakespeare's immortal dramatic creations is immense and is yet completely undiscovered. The Shakespeare Centre Sri Lanka strongly believes that this knowledge and creativity should essentially be pursued by all students and enthusiasts of drama and theatre. Shakespearean Challenge 2009, is thereby an endeavour to help serve this cause by bringing Shakespearean theatre closer to Sri Lankan students.