Mahasamayama premiere on January 30 at Nelum Pokuna
Creative Members of the Stage Play
Director/Script Writer : Prof. Ariyarathne Athugala
Choreographer : Channa Wijewardena, Ravibandu Vidyapathi, Darshana
Piyarathne
Music Director : Samantha Perera
Sets : Lalith Jayashantha (Sri Lanka Navy)
Make-up : Buddhadasa Galappatti
Costumes : Sampath Sanjeewa
Lighting Director : Mahesh Umagiliya
Stage Management : Upali Ariyasiri
“Mahasamayama”, the grand opera produced and directed by Prof.
Ariyarathne Athugala will make its debut at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda
Rajapaksa Theatre to mark its first anniversary, on January 30, under
the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
‘Mahasamayama’ woven around ancient Sri Lankan and Indian mythology
and folklore, is based on an ancient traditional legend – ‘Gotaimbara
and Mahasona'. It is a massive production and is designed to fit into
the ultra modern Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre. Prominent
exponents of drama and dance will participate and it will certainly be
the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. Music composing for the Opera has
already been completed by veteran musician Samantha Perera.
Athugala said “Mahasamayama” will be staged to bring legendary folk
drama tradition, which derived from myths and rituals to the modern
stage. Creative Arts are paramount in nourishing the spirit – the inner
thinking of the people of any country. He said it was his personal view
that there was a wealth of people’s thinking behind our traditional folk
art, as well as sacrificial offerings/rituals performed in honour of an
array of unseen celestial and other worldly beings of varying stature.
Athugala also pointed that we have destroyed some of these ancient
and valuable elements in an over protective attempt due to our greed.
Athugala said that viewing our things from a global perspective was
the theory that he followed in the production of Mahasamayama. The cast
featuring key figures in the fields of theatre/dance will include
Nissanka Diddeniya, Jackson Anthony, Sriyantha Mendis, Ravibandu
Vidyapathi, Channa Wijewardena, Indika Upamali, Madani Malwatte, Sandun
Wijesiri, Janaka Ranasinghe, Kumara Thirimadura and Chaturika Peiris and
together with the cultural troupes of the Tri-services – the Army, Navy
and the Air Force.
Public shows will be held on February 1 and 2 at 6.00 p.m. |