Namel-Malini Theatre celebrates 9^th anniversary with delightful drama festival from today. Veteran dramatists Namel Weeramuni and Malini Weeramuni have organized a significant drama festival at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre in Borella from today upto October 31.

“We laid the foundation for the theatre on October 23 in 2002 and opened it exactly a year later. The drama festival includes some interesting creations. Among them are four of my productions.

The drama festival will open today with a musical programme by Rathnasheela Perera. On October 23 we will be staging my production ‘Madhyawediyekuge Asipatha’ talking about a journalist who comes under threat by a politician whose bribery acts are exposed by the media man. It’s a very powerful play really on torture. I engaged in months of research before embarking on it. Lalindra Dissanayake, Anil Wijesinghe, Pinsara, Ishara and 28 characters are featured in the drama while I play the minister.

I am also launching the script of this play on the same day. It comes as a Godage publication. My tragi-comedy ‘Nettukkari’ will be staged on October 28. It was initially staged in 1970. Malini plays the main role while Ruwan Wickremasinghe, Surangi Kosala, Daya Tennekoon, Sanet Dikkumbura, Seneviratne Bandara, Anil Wijesinghe and others play key roles,” Namel Weeramuni told Impulse.  

Two of Namel’s one act plays ‘Deegeka Ewith’ and ‘Kandoskiriyawa’ will be staged on October 30, followed by Heiyammaruwa and Panditha Pilli on October 31.

Heiyammaruwa and Kandoskiriyawa are scripted by Somapala Gunadheera. Deegeka Ewith features Anusha Dissanayake, Prabath Manohara and Anil Wijesinghe play key roles in Deegeka Ewith while Warakagoda, Malini, Daya, Grace, Sanet and Lalith Rajapakse play key roles in Kandoskiriyawa.

Commenting on today’s stage scene and renewed enthusiasm for dramas, Namel Weeramuni who is a lawyer and former teacher said the majority of the audiences today want to just laugh and go.

“There’s nothing that they take back home. Theatre should cater to the people’s intelligence and trigger positive transformation in their mindsets. It was not so in the past. We read classics and watched dramas that directly touched our hearts and souls. Those memories still linger in my mind even today. When I was teaching in Ratnapura after passing out from university, I used to travel from Kalutara waking up at 4.30 pm daily.

On my way to Ratnapura I used to read a novel in the bus, standing mind you. And another on my way back. We were compelled to read editorials in the past but the quality and depth of editorials today are open to discussion. Today the reading habit is almost gone. I remember reading classics even as a six year old schoolboy. I was motivated by an Advocate called ‘Advakath Hamaduruwo’ then, to become a lawyer some day, “ he said.

“Even today I read a lot till about midnight daily. I hardly watch TV except for news. But I hope the good old times will come back again. The old hair styles, clothing fashion and other aspects are becoming a craze now. I hope all the popular cultures of the past will make a comeback soon,” said a hopeful Namel Weeramuni.

 

By Ramesh Uvais

 

 

The schedule   Oct. 8              6.45 pm           Rathnasheela Perera’s ‘Sindu Pedura’ Oct. 12            3.30 /6.45 pm  Sarath Kothalawela’s ‘Nari Burathi’ Oct. 13            3.30 /6.45 pm  Ranjith de Alwis’ ‘Silgath Kokku’ Oct. 14            3.30 /6.45 pm  Jaliya Rajapoakse’s ‘Sokari’ Oct. 16            3.30 /6.45 pm  Kerethi K.Ratnayake’s ‘Meeyo Nethuwa Behe’ Oct. 18             6.45 pm           Sunil Chandrasiri’s ‘Adaraneeya Sanwadayak’ Oct. 19             3.30 /6.45 pm  Dayananada Gunawardana’s ‘Nari Bena’ Oct. 20             3.30 /6.45 pm  Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s ‘Dhawala Beeshana’ Oct. 21              6.45 pm           Pasindu Chamara Academy’s ‘Ape Kamata Punchi Apen’ Oct. 22              3.30 /6.45 pm  Tharindu, Tharaka, Athauda’s ‘Muhunu Thunak’ Oct. 23              6.45 pm           Namel Weeramuni’s ‘Madyawediyakuge Asipatha’                           10 am to 5 pm  Art exhibition                            Launch of ‘Madyawediyakuge Asipatha’ script Oct. 24               3.30 /6.45 pm  K. B. Herath’s ‘Kalu Kumari’ Oct. 25               3.30 /6.45 pm  Buddhika Damayantha’s ‘Sindu Kirilli’ Oct. 26               3.30 /6.45 pm  Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s ‘Ekadhipathi’ Oct. 27                6.45 pm           GDL Perera’s ‘Ratagiya Eththo’ (film version) Oct. 28                6.45 pm           Namel Weeramuni’s ‘Nettukkari’ Oct. 30                6.45 pm           Namel Weeramuni’s Kandoskiriyawa, Deegeka Ewith Oct. 31                6.45 pm           Namel Weeramuni’s Panditha Pilli, Heiiyammaruwa