Mahasamayama, turning point in local theatre - ANCL Chairman

Disna Mudalige

The widely held opinion among senior and veteran artistes who contributed to the Mahasamayama Grand Opera was that it would become a turning point in the history of Sri Lankan theatre, said Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) Chairman Bandula Padmakumara.

He was making the opening address of the debut of the Mahasamayama Grand Opera directed by Prof Ariyarathne Athugala at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre on Wednesday evening to mark its first anniversary under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

The ANCL Chairman noted Prof Athugala brings out an insightful philosophy in his opera, as every artiste who made a turning point in the history did through their artistic productions. He noted this colourful opera guides the audience not to look at the world through the eyes of a fish, but to look through the eyes of a bird. He noted according to Prof Athugala, Mahasamayama was an experiment for an optimistic theatrical performance. The chairman pointed out Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra also made such experiment by staging Maname decades ago which was also a type of opera, adding that it marked a turning point in the local theatre drama.

He observed Maname after its breakthough at the Peradeniya University open air theatre entered the Lionel Wendt theatre which then represented the elite in Colombo. He noted even though the Lionel Wendt theatre was not perfectly suitable for staging of an opera, Sri Lanka has now got Nelum Pokuna suitable for this purpose. A crew of about 250 has contributed to the Mahasamayama . It was based on an ancient traditional legend - Gotaimbara and Mahasona. Prominent artistes provided their contribution for the production. A large number of distinguished guests including Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunaga, Ministers, MPs and Tri Force commanders participated.