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| Sunday, 28 September 2003 |
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By Farah Macan Markar Remember a "Jekyll and Hyde" storming the Wendt early this year. Grizzly murders taking place at night, and newspaper boys screaming "Read all about it" in the morn. Turning the clock further forward, think about that Othello we saw on stage at the BMICH at the great Shake Competition.
Being invited in 1999 by R.C. to direct its productions, Hetti has since then directed all its Shake Drama's for the Bard's Annual School Drama Competition. From "Romeo and Juliet", "Henry the 6th, "Macbeth", "Antony and Cleopatra" to this year's big "O" in which R.C. won second place, Hetti believes in giving all boys, not just the actors doing the main roles, a chance to develop themselves on stage, through having lots of minor characters. "Getting on stage gives self esteem, self confidence and develops personality. The wise thing to do would be to put just a few good actors on stage, having lesser minor characters, but these are school plays, and it is the only chance these boys will have to get on stage and have a go. The result may not be the perfect production, but on the long run, the boys will benefit" says Hetti.
"Othello" however is what Hetti feels was the best production they've ever done. "We lost someone who was like a brother to us 2-3 days before the semifinals. We didn't want to go for the semi's but for this but in the end we felt it was the best thing we could have done, and did. We came to the finals, gave it our best go, and were runners up". While all actors who've ever made a name for themselves have come up with the Shakespeare Drama Competition (SDC), Hetti feels the venue needs to be changed, as acting in a vast stage for amateur students it is intimidating, and creates more of a spectacle than theatrical play. "We are speaking with the organisers and hope to come up with an agreement" says Thushara. While competition is necessary, Hetti feels the SDC has become overly competitive with a lot of unruly, unpleasant behaviour. Butting in at the right moment, giving the necessary guidance and the actors a little space to develop their characters for themselves is Hetti's style of directing. "Students" says Hetti "need guidance, but it is amazing the ideas they come up with, when allowed to think for themselves". Other than directing plays for Royal College, Hetti is also involved in the Stages Theatre formed by Ruwanthi de Chikera. Hetti was one of five writers involved in the making of the script of their "Filling the Blanks" which was taken to Manchester, for the Commonwealth Youth Drama Festival. "Writing the script as an experience" says Hetti "we got together and discussed the storyline, and then each person wrote a scene. The first scene was done by all. I did the second scene with Sandamali Wijeyratne". Being involved with Stages, having a love for all parts involved in drama, Hetti contributes to it in many ways, from acting, being a stage hand, getting involved in props, lighting and sets. Says Hetti "These may be small chores, but drama is a team effort, and it is all these things brought together which makes a successful production". Having no formal training in speech and drama, Hetti first took the stage in school, which was first Wesley College and after year five, Royal. His most memorable moment in school would be the interhouse drama competition in 1995, when he wrote the script in a day, made the cast practise it on the next, and performed it on the 3rd, going on to win the cup. "It just goes to show" says Hetti who took the main role in it as a Lamp Post "that last minute performances could do the trick". Hetti however afterwards adds that he would never do it with any present cast. Sleeping whenever he can and reading books late in the night till early morn, (an unfortunate habit he says in the after effects, of waking up late, being late for work and being sleepy the whole day) Hetti's favourite book is the "Lord of the Rings" which he says he liked before the movie came out. Born on September 4th 1976, as a school boy Hetti says he was perfectly ordinary, a bit like a nerd. Doing English, GRC, French and Econ for his A's today he works at Grants Mccann as creative writer. His ultimate dream in the future is to be somewhere up there, strongly affiliated to R.C, and see the College manage to be a strong force in theatre. This is it from this self proclaimed easy going, team player, with a carefully pruned beard (which he says he takes 15-20 minutes to do on a good day). Adios! |
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| Produced by Lake House |
Jealousy, suspicion and rage stormed around through red and blue
cloaked, silver masked figures, sweeping through the stage, standing
still, fluttering threateningly according to the moods. The guy behind
these two productions, is 27 year old Thushara Hettihamu, popularly known
as Hetti.
Of the murderous "Jekyll and Hyde", Thushara feels it was a
good play, but a bit under prepared. Hetti himself going down with measles
in the last two weeks, the Old Royal Association of Drama (ORAD), who were
initially to be in charge of the logistics, resulted in getting involved
in the play. Telephone calls to and fro, from director to ORAD, to the
actors, the play finally came to be. Of it Hetti says "The end
product was not just the brilliant insight of the actors but a
collaboration of a whole cast, old boys, parents, teachers, and
myself".
