The new bloom for artistic presentation

From the time archaeological explorations revealed the treasures that lay hidden at Polonnaruwa, the Nelum Pokuna or Lotus Pond has been among the many important attractions that showed the skills and artistry of the ancient builders. Not far from the famous Buddhist temples and Hindu shrines that Polonnaruwa is well known for, the Nelum Pokuna built for the use of the Maha Sangha by Parakramabahu 1 (1153 -86 AD) had a special place on the itinerary of the pilgrim, tourist, student of archaeology and those interested in design in construction.

Its beauty lay in the combination of artistic design with functionality. As a pond for the use of the Sangha the several tiers within it did not require much imagination to show how functional it was as a place of bathing, discourse or relaxation.

It is this excellence of design that made it the source of creative inspiration for the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Sri Lanka’s first complete Centre for the Performing arts, which was formally declared open as the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre on Thursday.

Important gifts

This gift from China, which will remain as a further monument to the lasting friendship between Sri Lanka and China, will add to such important gifts as the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall and the Superior Courts Complex in Colombo. What is significant about these gifts from China is that in each case they have served to fulfill a long felt need in the country.

The BMICH helped put Sri Lanka on the map for international conferences and conventions, the Superior Courts Complex brought new space and dignity to an old establishment coming down from the Dutch period, where expansion or modernizing was necessary.

Now, the Nelum Pokuna Theatre gives to Colombo and the country the much needed venue for the performing arts, with the most modern of facilities, beautifully designed, spacious to accommodate very large audiences, the highest acoustic quality for the most demanding of musical or theatrical performances, with good allocation of audience related facilities such as catering, and abundant parking too. From the beginnings of theatre as public entertainment in the last century, the performing arts have not had a good choice of venues to cope with the increased interest shown by the public and to help in providing adequate facilities for those with an interest and commitment to artistic presentations.

The first formal location for the performing arts to be opened was the Tower Hall Theatre, in 1911, in Maradana.

It played an important role in the work of the nationalists Anagarika Dharmapala and writer Piyadasa Sirisena and the pioneer of Buddhist education Col. Henry Steele Olcott.

Choice of entertainment

It was a place where Sinhala Theatre of a new genre had its beginnings, when the plays of John de Silva and other great dramatists of the period brought in large audiences, with the rise of nationalism in the choice of entertainment, where inspiration was drawn from Sri Lankan the history and the Buddhist Jatakas.

The Tower Hall days are still remembered by a few who were associated with this new trend in popular entertainment.

The lure of profit in the new wave of entertainment changed what was a place for theatre into a cinema in the 1950s soon leading to its neglect and decay.

Tower Hall was restored to its original purpose by the setting up of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation by an Act of Parliament in 1978 by Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa, providing it with modern lighting and equipment required for the theatre today.

Great performances

The second oldest theatre in the country is the Elphinstone Theatre, also at Maradana, was opened in 1925. This too was a great attraction to the theatre going public of that day and saw many great performances both in drama and music. After the early generation of dramatists and musicians of the last century, the next generation led by the Minerva Players of BAW Jayamanne, and featuring Rukmani Devi brought fame to the Elphinstone. This too lost the theatrical tradition by being converted to a cinema, until it was restored to its original purpose in the year 2000, with facilities for cinema too.

The next important location for the performing arts was the Lionel Wendt Theatre at Guildford Crescent, Colombo 7. Founded in 1953 in memory of the famous artistic photographer and musician Lionel Wendt, it was a dedicated place for those who love art and theatre. For the first time it gave Colombo audiences a fully equipped theatre, with an auditorium seating nearly 600, with improved acoustics, good lighting and other facilities.

The Lionel Wendt remains a popular venue for theatre, including ballets and musical programmes. It gave an opportunity for both Sinhala and English theatre and a wide range of musical presentations that included western and Sri Lankan dance and Bharatha Natyam, too. It also added a new dimension to entertainment with the Art Gallery which remains a venue for important exhibitions in art, sculpture and photography.

Spacious auditoriums

In 1987 the government constructed the John de Silva Memorial Theatre near the Art Gallery in Colombo, in memory and honour of the great dramatist, who pioneered Sinhala theatre in the early years of the last century, inspired by historical and religious stories, and drawing from the nurti and nadagam traditions. This remains a popular centre for theatre till this day. John de Silva’s earliest plays were staged at what was known as the Public Hall, Colombo, which was later the Empire Theatre at Colombo 2, and at the Gintupitiya Theatre. This was before the Tower Hall was built. As the interest in drama increased with only a limited number of venues, many theatrical performances were held at school halls, in Colombo and other towns. With increased popular demand some Colombo schools built good and spacious auditoriums that had considerably improved facilities for the performing arts. Among the early school halls used for public theatre was that at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, and later the Ladies’ College Hall and the Navarangahala at Thurstan College. Among school halls, the Lumbini Hall at Havelock Town became one of the most important venues for Sinhala theatre, especially after the new awakening in drama brought about by Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Henry Jayasena and others.

Musical presentations

A major fillip to the performing arts, especially to musical presentations, came with the opening of the BMICH completed in the mid–1970s, the first important gift from the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka. A purpose built conference facility, on 37 acres of landscaped surroundings, it soon had great demand for musical presentations, due to the large hall with good seating and well equipped stage, and all related facilities.

The performing arts in Sri Lanka will now have a showpiece location, with the opening of the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre. It completes a long journey by the performing arts in Sri Lanka, from the days of the Public Hall that preceded the Tower Hall, until the country can boast of a truly modern facility that is fully equipped for all the demands of the performing arts from theatre to symphony orchestras and chamber music, quality dance ensembles and all the demands of opera. Nelum Pokuna brings a new dimension to facilities for artistic presentations in Sri Lanka. Bringing new opportunities for more creativity among Sri Lankans in dance, drama and music, it will also provide a fitting location for the best of foreign performers in artistic entertainment.