A Brilliantly Dramatic & Musical New Year 2008

by Nilma Dole

The New Year 2008 seems to be a new year with much promise and hopes in the field of music and drama.

Even though the current situation of our country has dampened our spirits, the new year looks to be more better with many musicians and hopeful playwrights offering their views for a bright new year 2008.In any sense of the word, talent will be harnessed, roles will be many, music will live on and Sri Lankan talent will go international.
Dillain Joseph of Alient Accent, a band that has taken Sri Lankan music to new heights with an international album hopes that the best up-coming talent is original, "I like to believe that the situation of the country isn't going to prevent the young talent from coming out".

Dillian points out that the music scene has brought alot of potentially good vocalists who have strived to do something different by drawing influences from renowned artists who re-create those golden hits of yesteryear.

Stigmata the distinguished Sri Lankan metal band has brought pride to Sri Lanka by being the only metal band and only Sri Lankan band to perform at the SAARC International music festival 2007.

Suresh Perera, the leader of the band comments, "The Sri Lankan music industry has grown through the years because there are some genuine, dedicated and inspirational musicians who have placed Sri Lanka on the map by focusing on their musical goals." He highlights that even though rock music is thought of as in negative terms, that stereotypical thinking has changed and more musicians are keen on promoting their home-grown originality.

He ended with this wise statement,"More bands must lay aside their differences - from all genres - and work together to ensure that Sri Lankan originality is making a name for itself worldwide."
Azlan Shariffdeen, a notable music producer, multi-talented musician and a former member of Cold Fusion and Deadlyne 21 gave his views. "The trend and rapid growth of original music is in both the Sinhala and Western scene, the quality and standard is rapidly increasing and our ethnocentric culture has kept the Sri Lankan vibe going".

He was apt to note that the television and the internet has been promoting Sri Lankan musicians, taking Sri Lankan music to global audiences for which several other artists and music directors have been in awe, like in Malaysia.

Tracy Tenekoon (a.k.a.Holsinger) the humourous and dramatic actress who is also a favourite Sri Lankan playwright suggested, "I hope people will experiment lots, push boundaries, be willing to learn and above all, avoid complacency".

True to that effect, she goes on to quote 3 famous playwrights to cement that theatrical motion - David Mamet who notes that theatre is to'undergo communion', Dario Fo who says 'theatre that does not speak for its own time has no relevance' and Eugene Ioneso who mentions 'One can dare anything in theatre'.

Feroze Kamardeen of 'StageLightandMagic'a playwright who was responsible for the satirical 'Puss for Boss' production comments that the New Year is a great year for theatre.

With the on-going trend for the Christmas season, there were brilliant original productions that pulled in house full. As for parking problems, theatregoers have worked around that problem and still yearn to indulge in good drama.

Feroze hopes for the best "We need more actors, actresses and more plays because the need of picking the right actor for the right production is an ad hoc process and theatre needs a fair amount of new people".

Indu Dharmasena, a distinguished playwright and a humourist by nature offered his predictions by saying that theatre has been hampered by insufficient parking and lack of sponsorships.However, he positively assures, "There is a lot of potential talent out there and the drama field needs fresh talent".

Furthermore, he mentions that it should be included in the education system in any sphere to hone not only a person's drama skills but also to develop their personality and themselves.

"Overall, a person should have intelligence when performing their role because the art of performing to a live audience should be mastered", Indu points out.

Further noting, "Even though theatre isn't a money-making career, many should turn to ways of being creative and trying their luck to give brilliant drama productions so that the people who sponsor it actually love the work".