Staying CentreStage!

Saturday, 3 November 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

This has been another busy year of creativity and theatre and social service for Jehan Aloysius and his drama group, CentreStage Productions. The year began by being commissioned by the Galle Literary Festival to conduct a workshop on bullying, based on ‘Rag – The Musical’.

The next project was not outstation but overseas, when CentreStage Productions was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the world’s biggest theatre festival, The Theatre Olympics, in this year’s host country, India.

The troupe performed ‘Pyramus & Thisby’ in Delhi and Calcutta to a captivated audience of theatre lovers both local (Indian) and international. Both audiences not only loved the performances but were also eager to discover the show and the intricacies in the work behind it.

The troupe’s popular production ‘Pyramus & Thisby’ also celebrated 12 years with the spectacular Anniversary show in July. This time around the show took a new twist and opened at the entrance of the Lionel Wendt with a procession and pre-show of what might be the Wendt’s first performance of its kind!

The show’s artisanal characters brought their ‘Director’ Peter Quince in a parade of dance, music and flame throwing performance. The pre-show entertained an engaged and enthused audience with laughter and craft to give them an experience like no other.

Jehan and his team also conducted two separate workshops on Shakespeare. The 2nd Workshop was on a special request by the YMCA for all the schools of the All Island Shakespeare Drama Festival, which celebrated over 40 years now.

The troupe also initiated their hugely successful Kids Summer Camp this year which sold out in under a week. The workshop activities were theatre based and used theatre techniques and activities to encourage creative expression and performance skills. Jehan Aloysius infused the workshops with unique elements and themes so the participants would be constantly engaged and inspired.

The troupe now plans to stage the hit comedy ‘Bengal Bungalow’ on 30 November and 1 December at the Lionel Wendt. Set in Bengal in the late 1930s, Bengal Bungalow is a fast-paced situation comedy written in the genre of British farcical theatre, with mistaken identity, sensational characters and situations as well as cunning twists.

The plot revolves around a British family residing in India, whose home, Bengal Bungalow, becomes a bizarre circus when a British pilot decides to accidentally crash his aircraft through their newly refurbished guestroom. As more characters, both British and Indian make their appearance, the play skyrockets towards its hilarious climax.

The troupe is excited to announce the Box Office will open soon at the theatre, but advanced pre-bookings are strongly advised since many have already booked their preferred seats by text on 0772949767. The updated box plan is displayed on the Facebook event, ‘Bengal Bungalow – A Smash-Hit Comedy!’.

This will be followed by a Kids Holiday Drama Camp in December which is already filling up with applicants. The troupe will also be spreading joy this year too at elders’ homes by singing carols and taking gifts. Jehan is excited about some of the new projects set for next year and hopes to work with the disabled once more as well promote original local theatre overseas.