Dmitri Gunatilake:

Ascending to soloing

by Dilshan Boange

Dmitri Gunatilake has displayed her talents to audiences as a singer and stage actress having played several notable roles in musical theatre productions such as Phantom of the Opera and Evita. A past pupil of Bishop's College Colombo, Dmitri has been involved in theatre from school days and has given this sphere of activity much importance in her life. In 2008, just weeks before sitting for her A/L exams she performed in The Revenge playing the role of Anoopama, the wife of Guttila, the master musician who was wronged by his pupil Musila.

A lawyer in the making, Dmitri who possesses an LLB degree from the University of London completed her law studies last year and is currently serving her apprenticeship and awaiting enrolment into the legal profession. This multi talented young personality is now set to make another stride in her accomplishments as an artiste. She will present her first solo show as a songstress, at the Russian Centre in Colombo on August 1, 2015. Here Dmitri speaks a bit about her journey thus far in the world of music and theatre and about her upcoming debut solo performance.

Q: You have played characters in both eastern and western plays. But when it comes to music, to which traditions do you find your tastes and talents directed?

A: Singing is my happy place and I find it so easy to express myself through song. But I have been exposed only to western traditions, so any song in that line (other than pop music) within my style, an interesting melody and good story to the song would do.

Q: What inspired you to take up singing and cultivate your skills in music?

A: I can say my very talented vocal trainers, the late Ruwani Seimon, who helped me come out of my shell and my current teacher Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu, who is constantly pushing me to improve my vocal techniques, any person with any sort of talent and of course my mum have inspired me.

Q: What gives your aesthetic senses more space to express - acting for theatre or performing as a singer?

A: Definitely singing and musical theatre. Acting in a play with no singing actually stresses me out a bit. It's a little different from musical theatre. Though you have to interpret the character in your own way in both a play and musical theatre, it makes it easier when I have to express a certain scene in song than in dialog. But I do like to be a part of it, because it's interesting and challenging.

Q: You have acted in musicals such as Evita and Phantom of the Opera. How do you then treat the role and function as both actor and singer? How do you balance it out onstage?

A: First I study the script and songs well, when I've got that sorted, I start to explore the emotions and mood of each scene and make my own interpretation of the character. As musicals are usually big productions, it's tough and lots of discipline is needed, to the extent of keeping your health and voice intact, but it's exciting and fun, so it makes balancing everything much easier.

Q: What can you tell the readers about your upcoming solo singing performance?

A: The recital lineup is meant to be enjoyed by everyone of any age, as it changes from one genre to another... Classical, Broadway, and Jazz. And there are a few guest performances as well. I'll be backed by a talented set of instrumentalist, so it will be an entertaining evening for all.