Shakespeare in local hands
Gamini Silva shares his experience in staging
Shakespeare in Sinhala :
Sandasen MARASINGHE
He is waiting on the open theatre under the great Banyan tree at the
Institute of Sinhala Culture (Sudarshi) in Colombo 7, for Hamlet who
orchestrated a plan to detect his father's treacherous murderer. And
sweet Ophelia, whose death no one could fathom whether it was accidental
or suicidal, remains still a mystery for five centuries.
|
Gamini Silva. Picture by Sudath Nishantha |
He who is waiting for Hamlet and Ophelia is none other than Obinamuni
Gamini de Silva who translated William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet',
'Othello' and 'Macbeth' into Sinhala and staged them for the Sinhala
audience in the late 70s and early 90s. And now Gamini is waiting with
the rest of his crew to stage 'Hamlet' next year.
"This time we have all the arrangements ready to stage the
Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in all three languages. I got the script
translated into Tamil language and we have shortened the English play,
as the original seemed to be a bit long for Sinhala theatre." Gamini
notes.
He adds that they are getting ready to film 'Hamlet' as well.
Everything is ready for the project but the challenge is to find actors
and the actresses. They are doing the rehearsals with a limited number
of cast at Sudarshi on Sundays.
"We are looking for a new young crowd who could take up this
challenge in any of the three languages."
When inquired as to why the 'Hamlet' was picked Gamini says every
Shakespearean play is fit enough for translations.
"But to me Hamlet is not only a love story but a story that deals
with problems of the youth in a deeper sense. It makes the drama
universal. Anyway critics think it is one of the two best dramas of
Shakespeare."
Gamini Silva concentrated on the Shakesperean plays as the Bard had
focused on the darkest sides of the human mind and bring them before the
audience.
"He never had any solution for those issues he discussed but he only
brought out the reality. I find kind of a philosopher in Shakespeare
more than a dramatist. Shakespearean dramas have been loved by all over
the world for five centuries and were translated to a number of
languages."
For Gamini the translating Shakespeare into Sinhala was a challenge.
"It takes so long to comprehend original drama with its theme,
philosophy, language, plot and all the other techniques Shakespeare uses
to convey his message. In addition one should posses a good command of
language and literature if he tries to translate it into Sinhala
language. We have to translate certain parts in verse form otherwise we
cannot give the essence to Sinhala audience which Shakespeare originally
attempted to impart in the audience."
After completing his secondary education at the Mahabodhi College,
Colombo 10, Gamini initiated his journey of quest for life on stage. He
became a close friend of late dramatist Dayananda Gunawardene at the
Sithuvili Society of E. W. Adikaram towards the late 1960's and joined
the Institute of Sinhala Culture (Sudarshi) in front of the BMICH and
presently he is the deputy secretary of the centre. After having
followed a drama course conducted by Dhamma Jagoda and Earnest Macyntre
in 1970 he acted in Hadawathaka Satahan directed by Badraji Mahinda
Jayatilake. He was also the assistant stage manager.
Gamini Silva directed his maiden stage drama Yatrawaka Minissu in
1972. The script was by Badraji Mahinda Jayatilake. He also staged the
another script by Badraji a One Act Play Bingein Pitathata in 1974.
"Thereafter I was fascinated by the depth of the Shakespearean dramas
and translated 'Romeo and Juliet' into Sinhala and staged it in 1976.
Lionel Algama was the music director." Gamini Silva recalled.
He then directed Sathuro in 1978. Jayasekara Aponsu was the scripter.
Later on he left for UK in 1978 to participate the 'Wales Youth Theatre
Festival' along with the crew of the 'Beggar' Sinhala drama directed by
Gamini Wijesooriya. The script was by Professor Tissa Kariyawasam. In
the UK he got the opportunity to follow several drama workshops in Royal
Shakespeare Company. He followed workshops on Shakespeare Theatre Art
and Acting, Theatre Production and Scriptwriting affiliated to several
other universities. He also had participated workshops in countries like
Netherlands, Germany and Austria.
Returning to Sri Lanka after two and half years he directed the
script Prema Thatagaya by Chandraratne Mapitigama. The music director
was Austin Munasinghe. Taking a landmark decision he founded the
'Shakespeare Centre Sri Lanka' in 1990 with the support of Professor
Tissa Kariyawasam, Professors A. J. Gunawardene, Nandadasa Kodagoda, Dr
Gamini Haththettuwegama and General Cyril Ranathunga. Then he staged the
'Othello' and 'Macbeth' in Sinhala in 1990 and 1992 respectively.
Gamini Silva can be contacted at 327, Darley Road, Colombo 10. |
