Young talent on stage

Text and pictures by Wehelle PIYATHILAKE- Maharagama special correspondent

Drama and fine arts are the best and certain medias to regain the lost friendship and peace and prosperity among the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.

This observation was made by the Chairman, Director General of the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) Lalith Piyum Perera at the drama diploma awards and certificates awarding ceremony of the drama diploma course conducted by the NYSC recently held at the Sri Lanka Youth Centre, Maharagama.

Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim budding dramatists were seen on one stage performing their talents at the certificates awarding ceremony.

Fifty budding young dramatists, men and women, were selected for the 45 days residential drama training workshop and diploma course conducted by the NYSC. Young dramatists were selected from all ethnic groups representing almost all 25 districts in Sri Lanka.

The course was consisted of theory and practical syllabus and Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and English veteran and reputed dramatists were the resource persons of the course.

Adhere to the provisions given in Mahinda Chintana every youth in the South and the North should be given similar opportunities in educational, economic, cultural and social sectors.

25 Sinhala, 17 Tamil and eight Muslim young dramatists were selected for the course.

Greek, Baratha, Western drama history, Aristotalism, Bharatha, Mune's Sanskrit drama, Western Shakespearism, National Kolam, Nadagam Nurthi, French opera, Japanese Kabuki and Nah, Russian social drama, epic drama, Molliore's absurd drama and street drama styles were included in the syllabus. The trainees were entrusted to form drama clubs in the localities and to form an all island drama centre for all Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and English speaking dramatists.

One Tamil and three Sinhala short plays were staged for the audience present at the diploma awards presentation ceremony. Those playlets elaborated the talents of the trained young dramatists.