Shakespeare’s initiator
Bandula Vithanage trailblazes in Lankan arts:
Ruwini Jayawardana
Breaking News goes on stage again
Nalaka Vithanage’s latest stage play titled Breaking News will go on
boards John de Silva theatre on January 30 at 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm. The
play is a political farce comprising comic incidents. It is Nalaka’s
third stage drama which was originally named Upanda Maranaya (Death on
Birthday).
Seven characters representing well known figures in the society are
brought together in a chain of events. The plot is woven around a
politician and the people he encounters like his secretary, a famous
actress, a police officer and many more. The story reflects how power
lures individuals who are greedy to fulfill their own needs by gaining
favour through the politician.
Amith Weerasinghe, Duleeka Marapana, Bandula Vithanage, Kingsley
Loas, Prasad Sooriyarachchi, Ayesha Dissanayake and Upali Bandara
portray the characters.
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Bandula
Vithanage |
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Ayesha and
Amtih |
Completing more than 45 years in the local arts field is a triumph
indeed and one only a few artistes can boast of. Seasoned actor,
translator, producer and dramatist Bandula Vithanage is one who belongs
to this category. Starting off his career in 1963 under Prof Ediriweera
Sarachchandra, he had travelled a long and unwinding path to make it to
the spot as one of the most respected and recognized artistes in the
field today.
A product of Ambalangoda Dharmashoka Vidyalaya, Vithanage had become
interested in arts during his school days. However he was able to
perform on stage for the first time in P Velikala’s production of the
Rathnavali stage drama in 1963. He later went on to produce Megha
Garjana in 1965.
One of his most celebrated plays was Gangavak, Sapatthu Kabalak Saha
Maranayak which won him a lot of applause from the audience and critics.
The play scripted by Simon Navagattegama won the best actress and best
stage setting awards that year. His next production Becket included some
of the most renowned faces in the industry and became an instant hit.
Vithanage is a Shakespeare enthusiast. He wished to bring the wonders
of William Shakespeare’s creations to the Sinhala speaking audience. His
first step was to bring the Sinhala version of The Merchant of Venice on
stage. This was done in 1980 as Venicea Velenda with Tony Ranasinghe in
the lead role.
His second Shakespearean play was Dolosvani Rathriya (Twelfth Night)
which he produced in collaboration with Ranasinghe. Later he translated
Macbeth into Sinhala in 2006.
Senahabara Dolly, Hiru Dahasa, Romaya Gini Gani and Sikuru Sanakali
are some of his other plays which saw the light of day.
Vithanage had dished out some memorable performance in 10 films. He
even assistant directed Vasantha Obeysekara’s Vesgattho and Pathiraja L
Dayananda’s Jodu Valalu.
He joined the Rupavahini Corporation in its early stages and learnt
the subject by obtaining a scholarship abroad. Later he produced a
number of entertaining teledramas such as Bumuthurunu and Asalvasiyo.
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