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The 30th National Youth Drama Festival concludes
amidst talent and creativity:
Curtains up for theatre talent
The 30th National Youth Drama
Festival, spanning the first two weeks of February, brings together 32
plays, the best of young dramatists.
Begun at Lumbini Theatre, under the
Patronage of Minister of Youth Affairs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and
organized by National Youth Services Council, the festival tests the
paces of local drama producers, sifting the cream at island best.
The Daily News spoke to a random
selection of young producers on how they address the youth and why the
festival is important to them
Jayanthi LIYANAGE
Pradeep Kumara Rajapaksha of Pettiyak
Dedahay
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Sevaneli |
My play exposes problems of our education system. For the rural
young, entering a university is a major occasion in life. But they get
caught up with politics and undergo severe hardships.
A university student and a casual worker discuss their problems and
the latter who previously thought highly about sending his children to
the university, now feels disillusioned of his intentions. This festival
is crucial for young play producers to go forward.
Sanjeewa Roshan on Deason Dennek
We live wearing a variety of masks in a world decorated with tinsel.
But a moment comes when one has to take off one’s mask. To live with our
two feet firmly on ground, in what way should we embrace the tinsel
world, is what I ask.
This festival is precious to the youth as they are assigned a value
not accorded to them at State Theatre Festival. The essence chosen from
district level competitions comes to the national festival.
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His Avakashaya Putuwa Aran |
M.Safeer of Avakashaya Putuwa Aran
This is an extremely modern and experimental play for youth written
by an European playwright which we have produced for the first time and
has not been produced even in Europe yet.
This play is meant for Black Box Theatre which I opened for the first
time in Sri Lanka. We are not showing this play on stage, but in the
centre of the audience hall. Only the content of the play and the
strength of the performance will be taken into account.
National Youth Drama Festival is the only alternative for young
theatre producers. This is my last play as soon I will be over the age
limit. This festival is a societal need of the young but there is no
methodology to take these plays to the public.
After the two weeks of the festival, a new set of youth drama will
come to the fore and these plays will not be shown again.
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Deason Dennek |
Lanka Bandaranayake of Punchi
Janelaya
My play tells about the recurrence of many things in the world.
Things can happen to another person in a different manner.
This festival is important to us as all expenses of making a play is
provided to us by the festival organizers. Advertising and bringing in
an audience is undertaken by the organizers. On the day of staging, we
are even a paid an allowance. What is important to me is that I get an
audience to show my play.
Pavalasingam Siridharan of Thirada
Thaham
Our youth must change their mindset to take care of their parents and
elders.
This festival encourages young artistes and creates a new culture
among them. It also gives an initiative to youngsters to come up with
their abilities.
Yasantha Karunaratne of Paraputu
My play talks about a simple society turning into a complex one in
global capitalism. The youth faces the dilemma of whether is it the
traditional culture that is right or the new culture.
This festival could not be held for the last two to three years. The
results can be seen today in that we have neared 35 years of age and
missed the best years of our youth to produce plays.
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Paraputu |
This is the biggest event for young play producers and the best venue
to have our say in plays. The organizers did not leave us stranded as
after the district-level competition, we had 25 stagings.
The organizers always gave us what we asked for, even the hall. That
credit must go to the organizers at the National Youth Services Council.
Even the age limit was extended to 35 years of age to give opportunity
to produce plays in the prime of the lives of producers.
Saman Kumara Gamage of Sankalika
Santhana
We do not put to practice everything our subconscious mind tells us
as we live in compliance with our social system. But given a chance, the
subconscious mind may come to the fore. My play gives the message to the
youth not to put to practice everything that comes to your mind.
This festival is the only opportunity for young play producers. This
is very fertile ground for budding artistes. The foundation for veterans
on Rupavahini and cinema is laid at this festival.
Tharuka Pushpa Kumara of Sevaneli
My play discusses the plight of those in war, after the war. The
problems of specifically women and children continue to fester.
This festival is important to young play producers as via this
festival, they can enter the State Theatre festival and other
competitions. This is the only theatre festival earmarked for youth.
Hewage Bandula of Kumarawaru Avith
My message is that the young play producer must go beyond doing
fantasy plays and project the reality of life. Issues of today’s lives
must be understood according to social, political and economic factors.
This festival enables youth to enter their play productions to
compete within a certain age limit, without competing with veterans.
They have the chance to gauge whether they have the ability to produce
plays or not.
Palitha Abeylal Dharmasena of
Hamuveema
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Hamuweema |
A person who left the society ten years ago comes back and finds that
human values have become a joke. My play tries to say that change can be
for better or for worse. If we look at a changed person in a one-sided
manner, we see only his ego. But if we scrutinize the reasons for his
change, we see that his change is justified.
This festival is the best place in which youth can present his
expression. The organizers did not influence us and we had the freedom
to express what we want in our creations.
K. Indiraja of Kadavulukkor Kadidam
My message is that the society should not neglect women. This
festival increases the knowledge of youth about society and changes
their mindset.
Harsha Tennekoon of Attanang
I am saying something that can hurt society. The play depicts the
problems of a young monk in his dealings with the society and how he
becomes helpless when regarded through a traditional eye view.
This festival goes beyond Colombo-centered play productions. Usually,
people in rural areas can produce plays only if Colombo workshops go
there. But this festival gives a chance to those outside Colombo to
produce and see plays of youth from beyond Colombo.
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