‘Fun on Stage’ the latest production directed by Sashi Mendis will take place this weekend at the Punchi Theatre in Borella.
Sashi Mendis, an experienced drama teacher who has been directing dramas for the past 12 years, including Blood Wedding by Garcia Lorca, Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco and bilingual street dramas, is set to bring forth a fun filled theatrical evening with three children’s plays – titled ‘Save the Human’, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ and ‘No, Not I’. Each drama is unique and will be performed by fifty kids in total.
Speaking to Sashi about teaching and the upcoming production, I was told that she focuses on performance and speaking skills and looks into skilled performances in terms of directing a play.
“I’m very particular about skilled performances when I stage a production especially in terms of voice, movement, dramatic input and use of stage. Although the kids find it challenging at times, there’s a great joy for them when their efforts are recognized,” she said.
Explaining the three plays, Sashi said that ‘Save the Human’ is about a world ruled by animals, where the humans have made a mess of things and the animals have taken over.
The plot shows similarities to today’s world, in terms of abuse but this time around, humans are abused at the hands of the animals. Hence, a group of animals are determined to ‘save the human’.
However, eventually self-ambition takes over the initial objective- similar to the real world.
“This play has a strong moral lesson and deals with issues regarding rights and how ineffective it can be at times. The kids are able to relate to this story as they have come to understand how the world works. We also had several discussions about the plays while reading the storyline so that the kids will be able to understand it more clearly,” Sashi added.
The second play follows the story of the renowned poem by Edward Lear, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’.
Some bizarre characters including the Runcible Spoon, Mr. and Mrs. Quangle Wangle, The Dong and the Pig with a ring at the end of her nose will also make their appearances on stage.
‘No, Not, I’, the final play for the evening by an Indian playwright is a folk play, where a group of kids make up their own interesting story.
Fun on Stage will take place on June 30 and July 1 at Punch Theatre at 6.30pm. Tickets are priced at Rs. 400 and Rs 500 and are available at the theatre.
For further inquiries contact Sashi Mendis on 0777 009258.
Text by Sherwani Synon
Pics by Kushan Pathiraja
0 Comments