Theater In Sri Lanka
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The Theatre of Sri Lanka encompasses many different languages and traditions.
Sinhalese language Sinhala ( ; Sinhala: , , ), sometimes called Sinhalese ( ), is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, who make up the largest ethnic group on the island, numbering about 16 million. It is also the first l ...
theatre originated from traditional
ritual A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...
s and folk dramas in the 19th century. Until that period, the art was confined to small villages and didn't have a national presence. Influential dramatist
Ediriweera Sarachchandra Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra (born Veditantirige Eustace Reginold de Silva; 3 June 1914 – 16 August 1996), popularly known as Ediriweera Sarachchandra ), was a Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist ...
attributes this to the influence of
Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' ( anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or '' Dhamma'' in ...
, which he believes to have "tended more toward solitary contemplation and the attainment of insight than towards congregational practices or participation in community life" .


History


Early forms

Dramas in Sri Lanka began first with ritualistic performances of early
polytheistic Polytheism is the belief in or worship of more than one Deity, god. According to Oxford Reference, it is not easy to count gods, and so not always obvious whether an apparently polytheistic religion, such as Chinese folk religions, is really so, ...
religions. Originating from masked dances that took on the roles of gods and demons in ritualistic practices, the theatre tradition gradually became free of religion and crystallised into an organized form of entertainment. With the arrival of
European European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...
s and
urbanisation Urbanization (or urbanisation in British English) is the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It can also ...
, the Sinhalese began to view theatre as a serious and secular art. At first, urban dramas were derivative borrowing heavily from
English drama Drama was introduced to Britain from Europe by the Romans, and auditoriums were constructed across the country for this purpose. Medieval period By the medieval period, the mummers' plays had developed, a form of early street theatre associ ...
, or from Parsi theatre musicals (''nurti'') and
Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
and
South Indian South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
operatic Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
plays (''nadagam''). These catered to a small audience and drew the ire of strict Buddhists who considered them worthless. They were further attacked by the development of a "Protestant" Buddhism, a revival of the religion that stressed strict adherence to its law. Therefore, the words ''kolam'' and ''nadagam'' took a connotation of something ridiculous or nonsense in Sinhala. It would take until the 1950s for serious Sinhala dramas to develop. With the independence of Ceylon from Great Britain and a widespread appreciation of Sinhala culture, Ediriweera Sarachchandra led the movement for serious Sinhala theatre. Sarachchandra's work, which brought together elements of the early folk ritual and dance drama tradition with Western theatre methods and stage style, created a new genre of theatre that appealed to all classes.


Major Venues

Major theatres in Sri Lanka include # King George Hall (KGH) of the
University of Colombo The University of Colombo (informally Colombo University or UoC) is a Public University, public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the oldest institution of modern higher education in Sri Lanka. Specialised in t ...
; #
Navarangahala The Navarangahala (''"New Theatre"''), in Colombo, is one of the main national theatres of Sri Lanka. History I. M. R. A. Iriyagolle, Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs laid the foundation stone for the Royal Primary School Hall on ...
of the
Royal College, Colombo Royal College, Colombo also known as; Royal Colombo, Colombo Royal College or Colombo Royal) is a Single-sex education, boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started by Joseph Marsh (priest), Joseph Mar ...
; #
Elphinstone Theatre Elphinstone may refer to: Places ;Australia: * Elphinstone, Queensland (Isaac Region) * Elphinstone, Queensland (Toowoomba Region) * Elphinstone, Victoria * County of Elphinstone, Queensland * Lake Elphinstone, Queensland ;Canada: * Elphinston ...
Maradana Maradana is a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds. A t ...
#
Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre The Nelum Pokuna Theatre (, ''nelum pokuna rangahala''; often known as Nelum Pokuna; previously the National Performing Arts Theatre, prior to naming at the opening ceremony after which the President Mahinda Rajapaksa named it after himself) is a ...
. #
Lionel Wendt Art Centre The Lionel Wendt Art Centre is a major art centre and theatre in Colombo, Sri Lanka, dedicated to the memory of Sri Lankan photographic artist Lionel Wendt. It combines live theatre and art exhibition, with two exhibition galleries and two thea ...
#
Nelung Arts Centre The Nelung Arts Centre is an arts centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It opened in September 2010, and houses a dance school, theatre, art gallery and associated offices. Established by the ''Nelung Arts Foundation'', which was founded by Niloufer Pieris ...
combine live theatre and art exhibition, with exhibition galleries and theatres. #
Tower Hall Theatre A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
Maradana Maradana is a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds. A t ...
#
Lumbini Theatre Colombo Lumbinī (, "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. The Buddhist commentaries state that Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini around 624 BCE. Gautama is believ ...
Lumbini Vidyalaya Lumbini College (Sinhala ලුම්බිණි විද්‍යාලය) or Lumbini Vidyalaya is a Sinhalese mixed school located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The school was founded in 1929 and has a current enrollment of 4,500 students from pri ...
# Namel – Malini Punchi Theatre Borella
Colombo 8 Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8. Demographic Borella is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Borella are Sinhalese and Tamils. There are also various other ...
# Y.M.B.A Borella # Sudarshi Open Theater
colombo 7 Cinnamon Gardens ( ''Kurundu Vaththa'', ) is an affluent neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east of Colombo's centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named for the former cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there w ...
# Sarasavipaya colombo 1 # BMICH Kamatha Open Theatre
colombo 7 Cinnamon Gardens ( ''Kurundu Vaththa'', ) is an affluent neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east of Colombo's centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named for the former cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there w ...
# Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre
colombo 7 Cinnamon Gardens ( ''Kurundu Vaththa'', ) is an affluent neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east of Colombo's centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named for the former cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there w ...
# New Town Hall Auditorium
Colombo Municipal Council The Colombo Municipal Council is the municipal governing body of Colombo, the largest city and financial centre in Sri Lanka. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of Colombo, and elected 119 municipal councilors. The council was f ...
colombo 7 Cinnamon Gardens ( ''Kurundu Vaththa'', ) is an affluent neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east of Colombo's centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named for the former cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there w ...
# Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra Open Air Theatre University of Peradaniya
Kandy Kandy (, ; , ) is a major city located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of ...
galaha Galaha (,) is a small town located in Central Sri Lanka. Situated at an elevation of about , it is one of the first tea plantations in Sri Lanka, south of Kandy. And from Gampola town and from Deltota town. Presently it is administrated by D ...
juntcion not open to outside visitors only university students


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Theatre Of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
Theatre of Sri Lanka