Curtain-up for Mahasamayama

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.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest.

Mahasamayama woven around ancient Sri Lankan and Indian mythology and folklore is based on an ancient traditional legend - ‘Gotaimbara and Mahasona’. It is designed to fit into the ultra modern Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.

Prominent exponents of drama and dances will participate in this production.

Prof 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 is his personal view that there is a wealth of peoples 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 said that viewing our things from a global perspective is the theory that he followed in the production of Mahasamayama The cast featuring key figures in the fields of Sri Lankan 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 Chathurika Peiris together with the cultural troupes of the Tri-services – the Army, the Navy and the Air force.