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| Sunday, 30 April 2006 |
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Dramatist par excellence
by Lakmal Welabada "If music be the food of love, play on," said Shakespeare. "Food, love, music and drama, everything goes in the same rhythm. Hence, when I have a little spare time, I love to visit restaurants as I'm a connoisseur of food too. I'm well-known, for this among my friends," laughs Vinodh Senadeera who is well-known to be of the best young directors in local English theatre circles.
Although he vows that St.Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia is his second home, his family members would disagree totally with him and say 'St.Thomas should be called his first love and first home'. The young dramatist has been such a 'theatreholic' and a 'school-worm' who rarely had any time for anything else. Though Shakespeare says, 'I would give all my fame for a pot of ale', in his play 'King Henry V' (Act 1, Scene 3), this young drama enthusiast who adores and follows Shakespeare, would not sacrifice a single minute of his drama practices for anything in the world. Being the Head of the College English Section and the teacher-in-charge of Drama and Theatre, Vinodh spends his whole time to achieve what he thinks is the best for drama. He is busy throughout the year doing something or the other for drama. Vinodh claims he understands and tries his best to be friends with his students "....Although I sometimes get a little agitated, irritated and angry, especially when things are not in order," says Vinodh shrugging his shoulders. It's hard to believe that such a sweet-natured pleasent teacher has anything to do with bitterness. But the young school teacher is a disciplinarian. "Discipline is the main thing a student learns when he takes part in theatre. They learn punctuality and responsibility by being at rehearsals at the right time and completing the given tasks before dead lines. Theatre is the best tutor to teach good English. Drama is a sport of a kind. One has to be physically fit and must flexible muscles to take part in drama. Drama permits students to be immaginative and creative. Even if they take a small part in the play they are able to express their creativity. He was quick to emphasize that stage performance also builds confidence. Drama is a process of personality developing. Drama moulds a perfect 'productions' to fit society. Once these children go out into the world, they can face situations with confidence. They can go anywhere and communicate to perfection because they have the exposure on stage," he explains . "So drama is not a waste of time as some parents think. St.Thomas' has the prestige of having one of the oldest drama societies in Sri Lanka as it's foundation runs as far as the 1860s," he claims. Vinodh's first exposure on stage was 'changing guards at Buckingham Palace', a singing item in the school concert at St.Thomas', when he was a six-year-old. He has a faint memory of his father, P.Senadeera who was the former Mayor of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and who passed away when Vinodh was only three years. He has two older brothers, Asok and Suresh who have settled abroad with their families. His mother Vira Senadeera still runs a Montessori. His mother inspired him to become a teacher. "I selected subjectslike English, Greek and Roman Civilization, Economics and Divinity for A/Ls with the sole intention of becoming a teacher. I love teaching, especially teaching kids, although it is a huge physical process," he says. 'Hotel Paradiso', a french comedy directed by Christopher Ponniah and staged at the Lionel Wendt was the 'College Production' in 1986. This was the most memorable event in Vinodh's life . He was in year 6 when he got the opportunity to be part of the play which was 'The' beginning of his journey in drama. He directed Shakespeare's dramas and won the All Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition many times. This competition is considered the most prestigious annual schools drama event . "In 1992, while I was doing A/Ls I directed the play, 'Taming of the Shrew' which became the Best Play, and I, acted as the 'Shrew' and won the Best Actor award," he reminisced. Vinodh remembers the turning point in his life that made him to sink in mass productions of theatre. "It was 1991. I was still an A/L student. Our late Principal Mr.Neville De Alwis called me to his office one day, and kept three lakhs in my hands and told me, "Son, I want a good show." I was shocked that this person was trusting me so much. And it was Oscar Wilde's 'Importance of being earnest', which was the first major production in my life. The two and a half hour show was a superb achievement as I and my friends were together responsible for everything. Today , except me, all of my friends who were with me in theatres have taken to other professions. But still we remain good. That is something I really value in my life," he smiles. 'Combine Theatre Company' is the result of this never fading friendship. Plays like 'Ropes of Sand' (written by Michael de Soyza), 'The Bishop; A Bear and Grandma', 'Proof' 'Jingle Tastip' in 2005 were the productions they have presented. They produced the musical 'Winds of Change' last year in aide of tsunami victims. Though he entered the Colombo University and excelled in English Lit, Sociology and International Relations ; and read news for TNL for many years, Vinodh's love for his school never faded. The drama-master has been involving in many dramas, comedies and musicals for St.Thomas throughout. Other than theatre, Vinodh has a little spare time for a pastime. He loves to play piano for the small Jazz and Pop musical band he and his friends operate for fun. Vinodh is the Church organist of St.Thomas. And ironically he has never attended any particular music class to learn music. It's all his intuition and talent which he has developed. Vinodh loves travelling, he loves travelling in Europe. He has taught English Literature at Swanlea School in East London for sometime. He had done a few theatre productions with Visakha Vidyalaya and Ladies College Colombo. Vinodh is also a teacher cum examiner a Wendy Whatmore School of Speech and Drama. The young, shaven headed drama lover seems not to have fallen in love yet. "Oh! I am too busy to think of that," he avoids shyly with a hearty yet friendly smile. n |
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