Cultural DIARY

Naribena with Jasaya and Lenchina at Elphinstone

A scene from the play

Dayananda Gunawardena's Naribena Samaga Jasaya Saha Lenchina will be staged at the Elphinstone Theatre, Colombo 10 on June 4 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m.

The cast includes Rodni Warnakula, Bandula Wijeweera, Sarath Kulanga, Gayani Prabuddhika, Rathnasheela Perera, Jayanath Bandara, Saman Gunawardena, Sunil Thilakarathna, Wasantha Gunawardena and Indika Jayasinghe. Music is by Kapila Pugalaarachchi.

Sanda Langata Enakam at Dehiwala

Two award-winning dramas Sanda Langata Enakam and Pambayai Lamayai will be staged at the S de S Jayasinghe hall, Dehiwala on June 3 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.

Gabbara Minisa at Elphinstone

A scene from the play

Sriyantha Mendis's Gabbara Minisa (Pregnant Man) will be staged at the Elphinstone Theatre, Colombo 10 on June 3 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. There will be a repeat show at the Town Hall, Wattala on June 4 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m.

The cast includes Sriyantha Mendis, Kusum Renu, Sarath, Kotalawela, Vasantha Vittachchi, Malkanthi Jayasinghe, Sujeewa Piyalal and Mihiri Priyangani.

The music is directed by Anthony Surendra. Choreography is by Ariyaratne Kaluaarachchi.

'My Tribute' - debut concert by Oktave

The latest double quartet in the semi-classical music scene is the choir Oktave who will launch themselves at the concert title 'My Tribute' which will be held at St. Mary's Church, Bambalapitiya on Saturday, June 4 at 7.30 p.m.

Formed by Neranjan de Silva, one of Sri Lanka's most sought after accompanist, Oktave's signature calling card is its unique sound through the use of state of the art technology to blend eight unique voices.

Punchi Apata Den Therei and Toppi Welenda at Maharagama Youth Centre

A scene from Punchi Apata Den Therei

Play House, Kotte, the leading children's play producer will present Punchi Apata Den Therei and Toppi Welenda (The Hat Seller) at the Maharagama Youth Centre on June 1 at 8.00 a.m. and 10.45 a.m.

Both plays are based on well-known folk tales. They are produced as musicals and in the adaptations, new characters and situations have been incorporated particularly to communicate with the Sri Lankan child. The production style of the plays has been developed so as to give the young audiences as well as the whole family an aesthetic journey of entertainment. Choreography, lighting, costumes, stage props, and music of the dramas have been carefully crafted to convey the children a sense of basic art forms and meaningful entertainment. The music enhances the sense of beauty of the visuals generated on stage by the professional theatre group of the Play House, Kotte.

The composition of music of these dramas has been based on our traditional melodies which are modified and adopted into the present context.

Both plays are written and directed by Somalatha Subasinghe. Music is by M.R. Chulasinghe. The cast comprises Wickrama Seneviratne, Rohitha Karunaratne, Mayura Kanchana, Dilum Buddhika, Sulochana Weerasinghe, Geetha Alahakoon, Nimmi Priyadharshini, Lahiru Nimantha, Pramod Edirisinghe, Dilip Kumara, Thilina Prasad, Ayesh Perera, Purna Dilhani and Palitha Abeyratne.