Drama

The Drama in Sri lanka.

 

There are more drama in Sri lanka such as Sokari, Kolam, Nadagam,  Stage drama, English drama, Tamil drama. This drama celebrate for special functions and sri lankan's  accept importance  memory.

English drama

 

The English Drama Society of Royal College has a rich history with an active participation in many Annual events that take place in Sri Lanka on the field of English Drama.
The main event each year in the Society calendar is the All-Island Thespians Challenge Trophy, or better yet known as the All Island Shakespeare Competition. This event, with a participation of over 40 schools from all over the country, is of utmost importance to the society as it is defined by many in the country as a measure of ranking schools in English Theatre. The English Drama Society has emerged champions of this competition in years 1992, 2002, 2008 and been the Runners-Up in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The English Drama Society recognizes the Shakespeare Challenge trophy to be the pinnacle of the society year as it is the main event that all members look forward to. The reason behind this is the unbreakable bond that is created during that one month of intense hardship, where age, status and hierarchy has no effect and all that matters is creating a brilliant production that manages to awe audiences every year. 
           

 

 

Tamil drama

he currently known Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse. Ethnicities include: Sinhalese (74% of the population) most of who practice Buddhism and populate the South West; Ceylon Tamils (approx. 12%); Indian Tamils (approx. 5%), most of who practice Hindu but with sizable Christian minorities based in the ‘tea country’ of south-central Sri Lanka]and other smaller minorities including Muslims (about 7%), the majority of whom practice Sunni Islam; Burghers and aboriginal Veddahs. Whilst the constitution of 1978 assures religious freedom, it accedes predominance to Buddhism.

Since the 1980s, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting for an independent homeland. The origin of the conflict lies within the corrosion of the relationship between the Tamil and Sinhalese subgroups in the 1950s. In 1983 there were serious ant-Tamil protests in Colombo resulting in the lynching and killing of about 2000 Tamils. Towards 1987, the Sri Lankan government's embargo of Jaffina resulted in hardship for Tamils. Consequently an Indo-Sri Lankan Accord was agreed upon.

Whilst there has been past cooperation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, during colonial occupation the Sinhalan pysche has determined that the Tamil are historical enemies. Tamils are viewed by the Sinhalese as a threat to their singular identity. As a result Sinhalese became the official language of Sri Lanka and politics became Sinhalese-dominated, tending toward a Sinhala hegemonic state. Consequently the Tamil culture and identity was oppressed. On the other hand, the Tamils saw Sri Lanka as a place of coexistence, a place with equal rights whilst maintaining their culture and values.

Sri Lankan Tamils are descendants of the indigenous Tamils and subdivided into three predominate groups: Jaffina Tamils of the Jaffina Peninsula and the Northern Province; Batticaloa Tamils; and the Tamils of the Eastern coastal region and Colombo. Some Tamilan artists have settled in Colombo making that the centre for Sri Lankan Tamil Dramas. The suppression of their values by the Sinhalese culture has led to an identity crisis for Tamils. For who are they if they have no acknowledgment or homeland? In essence it can be compared to the Palestine and Israel debate.

However the suppression of the Tamilan identity has been ameliorated somewhat by the introduction of electronic media forms. Website visualising the claims for Tamil Eelam [1] and websites that allow the reports of Tamil related events [2]. They have allowed the world to view the Tamil perspective.

 

Sri lankan tamil drama has big history. Very famouse tamil drama is Kuththu.

Kuthu and Kudiyattom are the earliest of the theatrical arts of Kerala. The Tamil epic Silappathikaram refers to the performance of 'Kuthu' in the theatre hall by a Kutta Sakkaiyan of Paraiyur in order to entertain the Chera king Senkuttuvan and his queen. This is clear evidence of the antiquity of 'Kuthu' as an art form. 'Kuthu' is a monoact in which a single actor, the Chakiar, acts the role of all the characters to the accompaniment of mizhavu (a close - necked copper metal drum) played by the Nambiar and cymbals played by the Nangiar (Woman of the Nambiar community). The Chakiar expounds puranic stories punctuating his narration with illustrations from contemporary life.

He enjoys unfettered privilege to crack jokes even at the expense of the dignitaries present in the audience and the latter have no right to report. Kudiyattam is a theatrical art which presents a full-fledged drama or select portions thereof. More than two or three actors appear on the stage at the same time as in a modern drama. The Chakiar performs the role of the male characters and the Nangiar that of the female characters. The Nangiars also sound the cymbals and recite the Sanskrit verses which the Chakiar enacts. A feature of Kudiyattam is that there is a Vidushaka or clown who recites the Malayalam translation of every Sanskrit verse enacted by the Chakiar. The Attaprakarams and Kramadipika of poet Tolan give detailed guidance in regard to the mode of acting.                 Stage drama   Today sri lanka stage drama is very famouse.

picture of sri Lankan drama

 

Sri Lankan Folk Art traditions

 

Sri Lankan traditional folk dance is a dying art says veteran dance teacher Niloufer Pieris, who has dedicated decades of her life to training young ballerinas. “We need to educate our young people and preserve this extraordinary art,” she says.
For many years Niloufer has made an effort to bring dancing to the people as she believes that it teaches a child many a lesson in life’s skills and personality.

Together with the contribution of Royal College, Niloufer has planned an evening of Sri Lankan traditional dance as a tribute to her father, Eustace Pieris, whose 20th death anniversary falls this year.

NATMO 2012 will be a colourful night of traditional folk dance and rare folk songs.
The dancer behind NATMO is Niloufer’s student Rangika Jeewantha who has his own dance academy ‘Rivega Dance Studio’. Rangika has won five international awards and numerous local awards and has performed in the Middle East, Singapore, Thailand and India.

Rangika has prepared for nearly a year and trained 60 dancers from all over the country to make the show a success, despite a disappointing lack of sponsorship, Niloufer’s support apart.

“We want to show the people the best and the rarest folk dances that are slowly disappearing. Children nowadays don’t know what our traditional dance is,” Rangika said.NATMO 2012 will be staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on July 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets priced at Rs.1000, Rs.800, Rs.600 and Rs.400 are available at the Wendt.