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RUWANTHIE DE CHICKERA (1975 - ) |
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Nationality: Sri Lankan Email: Click here to contact Website: n/a |
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Literary Agent: n/a |
photograph by Shakthi Ranatunga. Ruwanthie is an award winning playwrite, screen writer and theatre director. Her plays have been produced in Sri Lanka, the UK, Japan, India, Australia and the Philippines. Her first play won the British Council International New Playwriting award in 1997 and was the first Sri Lankan play to be performed in London's West End (at the Royal Court Theatre). In 2000 she was awarded the Gratiaen Prize for best creative writing in Sri Lanka and in 2005 was Chairperson of the Gratiaen Judging Panel. She is recipient of the 2001 Presidential Scholarship for theatre from the govt of Sri Lanka and the 2006 Theatre Pasta award for her contribution to international theatre. Ruwanthie's first screen play 'Machan' has won several awards internationally, including Best Film at the 2008 Venice Film Festival ('Last Days' Section) and the Best Screenplay Award at the Durban I.F.F. Ruwanthie has an Honours degree in English Literature from Colombo University and a First Class Masters in Applied Theatre from Manchester University. She is a former member of the National Drama Panel, and a current member of the Literature Panel of Sri Lanka and a Visiting Lecturer at the National University for Performing and Visual Arts. She also teaches English Literature at a Secondary girls school. In 2001, Ruwanthie co-founded the youth theatre company 'Stages Theatre Group' of Sri Lanka. She continues to be its artistic director. She was born in 1975. She lives in Colombo with her husband and two daughters. http://www.machanthefilm.com/
Plays by Ruwanthie de Chickera
24 hrs | ||
| 1st Produced: | British School, Colombo, | Dec 2006 | ||||
Company: | Stages theatre group | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #65777 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Verbatim theatre | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | several | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | A verbatim style examination of events, reported in the Sri Lanka media, within a time frame of 24 hours. 24 hrs is part of the production 'Checkpoint'.. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Blind Poet, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 2004 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51922 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Realistic Tragicomedy | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 6 | Female | 3 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | based on the short story (The Poet's Wife) by acclaimed Indian writer - Mahasweta Devi. | |||||
Synopsis: | MultiFlex' is an events promotion team struggling under the weight of an incompetent work force and a string of failed promotions. In a desperate attempt to revamp an annual felicitation ceremony, MultiFlex decides to felicitate local artists instead of glamorous stars. And so it happens that the team decide to felicitate Lionel Abeyweera - an old blind poet. Lionel Abeyweera, who lives with his wife Swarna is struggling with the reality of being forgotten, is thrilled at the unexpected honour. However, he cannot attend the felicitation ceremony and so, Swarna goes in his stead. Prepared with a moving acceptance speech she has memorised on his behalf, the timid Swarna braves the lights, loudness and chaos of the felicitation ceremony and returns home to the eager questions of her husband. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Brick Layer, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | 2001 | |||||
Company: | part of ShowReal | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51919 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Symbolic/ One man/woman show | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | 1 m/f | |||||
Notes: | Running Time 25 min | |||||
Synopsis: | There is no obvious plot in this play. The play is only 20 lines. And it looks at the issue of child abuse in a cryptic and symbolic manner | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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CHECKPOINT - three strangely normal plays | ||
| 1st Produced: | British Council, Colombo | 2001 | ||||
Company: | Stages Theatre Group | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #106946 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | mixed | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | several | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | 'Checkpoint' is an evolving production that captures the strange political realities of current life in Sri Lanka. Checkpoint comprises three short plays. A one man show, verbatim theatre and forum theatre. CHECKPOINT was first performed in Colombo, in 2001. It was re-created for performance in Colombo in 2006. It has also been toured to the following cities in India - Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow, Varanasi, Boobaneshwar and Mysore, in 2006. CHECKPOINT was selected for performance at the National School of Drama in Delhi, 2006 and the 'MetroFest' international theatre festival organised by 'The Hindu' (the newspaper), in Chennai, 2007. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Colombo - her streets | ||
| 1st Produced: | Bishops College Auditorium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Dec 2008 | ||||
Company: | Stages Theatre Group | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #106947 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Symbolic/dance | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 3 | Female | 4 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | The performance evolved out of a series of workshops conducted with the senior students of a girls' school in Colombo. | |||||
Synopsis: | The piece looks at being young, Tamil and female in a society where racism on the streets is increasing. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Crutch, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | 1998 | |||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51916 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Realistic, dark and psychological | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 4 | Female | 3 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | aka Middle of Silence. Running Time 90 min | |||||
Synopsis: | Middle of Silence is a story that revolves around a relationship between a paraplegic man and his wife. This relationship, that is disturbing and violent - hinges on conflicts of class, sexuality and gender | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Forum at the Punchi | ||
| 1st Produced: | Punchi Theatre, Borella, Sri Lanka | Mar 2008 | ||||
Company: | Stages Theatre Group | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #106945 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Improvisation/Forum Theatre | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | Five nights of Forum Theatre examining the issues of The Ethnic Conflict and Marital Rape. The stories were based on true incidents. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Jony And Urvashi Show, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 2004 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51921 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Tragicomedy/Absurd Tragedy | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 7 | Female | 6 | ||
Parts other: | ensemble | |||||
Notes: | inspired by Mahasweta Devi's short play - Urvashi and Jony | |||||
Synopsis: | Jony is a ventriloquist street performer. He and his irrepressible muse/voice Urvashi perform 'The Jony and Urvashi show' at the Borella bus depot every evening. This show, which is based on the chaos and humour of bus travel, has an enthusiastic and loyal following of a group of colourful regulars like Podian, Saaliya, Soosie and Jocelyn. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Middle Of Silence | ||
| 1st Produced: | 1998 | |||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51917 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Realistic, dark and psychological | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 4 | Female | 3 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | under the title The Crutch', directed by Indu Rubasingham. Translated into Pilipino by Tangalang Pilipino Foundation, 2004 | |||||
Synopsis: | Middle of Silence is a story that revolves around a relationship between a paraplegic man and his wife. This relationship, that is disturbing and violent - hinges on conflicts of class, sexuality and gender | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Mirror Making Factory, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 2003 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51920 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Satire/Comedy/Absurd Satire | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | 9 m/f and ensemble | |||||
Notes: | written by Ruwanthie de Chickera, Omar Chunchi and Amal de Chickera | |||||
Synopsis: | This play is a satire on current Sri Lanka, which hinges on popular and common beliefs, fears and subscriptions to what is normal and abnormal. Written through the perspective of 'Mental Health' it questions the constructs of 'normality' in Sri Lanka and the wider World. The play is set in the future, in a factory that creates 'Modern Men'. The play takes a group of students on a tour of this 'Modern Man Factory.' | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Two Times Two Is Two | ||
| 1st Produced: | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 2000 | ||||
Company: | Stages Theatre Group | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #51918 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Surrealistic Tragicomedy Comedy | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 2 | Female | 2 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | Running Time 75 min | |||||
Synopsis: | a play which is made up of two mirror acts. The first is a meeting between two strangers on a park bench. An old man and a young man meet briefly and then part abruptly. The first act drags on through potent silences and half conversations. When it ends, we feel that nothing has really happened. The second Act is a word for word/action for action - re-run of the first Act. The only difference is that, now, in addition to the old man and young man, we have two actors playing their unspoken thoughts. As the action of the first act unfolds again, the audience realise, through the unspoken thoughts, what binds these two men together. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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