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Ruwanthie de Chickera

RUWANTHIE DE CHICKERA

  (1975 - )
Nationality:    Sri Lankan
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

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/

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below is a list of Ruwanthie de Chickera's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         24 Hrs         Blind Poet, The         Brick Layer, The         Checkpoint - Three Strangely Normal Plays         Colombo - Her Streets         Crutch, The         Dear Children, Sincerely. . .         Forum At the Punchi         Jony And Urvashi Show, The         Middle Of Silence         Mirror Making Factory, The         Two Times Two Is Two         Walking Path

24 Hrs

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'..

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
British School, Colombo,     01 Dec 2006

Organisations:
Stages Theatre group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Verbatim theatre

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  several

Further Reference:
-

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Blind Poet, The

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.

Notes:
based on the short story (the Poet's Wife) by Acclaimed Indian writer - Mahasweta Devi.

1st Produced:
Colombo, Sri Lanka     2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Realistic Tragicomedy

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Brick Layer, The

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

Notes:
Running Time 25 min

1st Produced:

Organisations:
part of ShowReal

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Symbolic/ One man/woman show

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  1 m/f

Further Reference:
-

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Checkpoint - Three Strangely Normal Plays

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.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
British Council, Colombo     2001

Organisations:
Stages Theatre Group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
mixed

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  several

Further Reference:
-

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Colombo - Her Streets

Synopsis:
the piece looks at being young, Tamil and female in a society where racism on the streets is increasing.

Notes:
the performance evolved out of A series of workshops conducted with the senior students of A girls' school in Colombo.

1st Produced:
Bishops College Auditorium, Colombo, Sri Lanka     01 Dec 2008

Organisations:
Stages Theatre Group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Symbolic/dance

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Crutch, The

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

Notes:
aka Middle of Silence. Running Time 90 min

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Realistic, dark and psychological

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Dear Children, Sincerely. . .

Synopsis:
a conversation across generations

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
The Western Province Aesthetic Resort (NADA theatre opposite the Planetarium, next to the Royal College Gym), Colombo 07     29 Jan 2016

Organisations:
Stages Theatre Group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
piece

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Forum At the Punchi

Synopsis:
Five nights of Forum theatre examining the issues of the ethnic Conflict and Marital Rape. the stories were based on true incidents.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Punchi Theatre, Borella, Sri Lanka     01 Mar 2008

Organisations:
Stages Theatre Group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Improvisation/Forum theatre

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Jony And Urvashi Show, The

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.

Notes:
inspired by Mahasweta Devi's short play - Urvashi And Jony

1st Produced:
Colombo, Sri Lanka     2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Tragicomedy/absurd Tragedy

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  6            Other:  ensemble

Further Reference:
-

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Middle Of Silence

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

Notes:
under the title the Crutch', directed by Indu Rubasingham. Translated into Pilipino by Tangalang Pilipino Foundation, 2004

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Realistic, dark and psychological

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Mirror Making Factory, The

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.'

Notes:
written by Ruwanthie de Chickera, Omar Chunchi And Amal de Chickera

1st Produced:
Colombo, Sri Lanka     2003

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Satire/Comedy/absurd Satire

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  9 m/f and ensemble

Further Reference:
-

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Two Times Two Is Two

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.

Notes:
Running Time 75 min

1st Produced:
Colombo, Sri Lanka     2000

Organisations:
Stages Theatre Group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
Surrealistic Tragicomedy Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Walking Path

Synopsis:
It is a play without words, devised along the several walking paths of Colombo.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Lionel Wendt Theatre, 18 Guildford Crescent, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka     26 Jul 2014

Organisations:
Stages Theatre Group

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

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

Booksellers:

Genre:
piece

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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