Spotlight on emerging dramatists

Q: Briefly introduce yourself to us?

A: I’m Taariq Jurangpathy from Wesley College. I’m 18 years old. I’m a lover of theatre. Aside from theatre I’m also a 1st XV Rugby player and the captain of the 1st 11 Hockey team and I’ve been applying both sports since the age of six. I’m also the Leader of the College Choir and the outgoing Vice President of the Interact Club. 

Q: Is this your first time taking part in the competition? 

A: This is the sixth time I’ve taken part in the competition. I first took part in 2009 in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ playing the role of a fairy. In 2010 I played Lancelot in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, 2012 I played a soldier in ‘King Henry V’, 2013 I played Laertes in ‘Hamlet’. 2015 I played the Earl of Kent in ‘King Lear’, and in 2016 I acted as Brutus in ‘Julius Caesar’.

Q: What inspired you to get in to acting and when did you first start taking part in dramas? 

A: When I was little I used to sit at the back of the hall where we had drama practices, watching my eldest brother play the main character in Shakespeare’s ‘Coriolanus’ and thereafter I was more inspired after watching my second brother playing Lorenzo in the ‘Merchant of Venice’ and my third brother playing the Fool in ‘King Lear’. Aside from my brothers my parents always motivated me to achieve my desires, which brought me to my current status.

Q: Have you taken part in any other productions or drama competitions? 

A: I have taken part in a few school plays.

Q: How do you feel about having won the award?

A: Honestly at the end of the second day I lost all hope in winning the award. I must say frankly that the main roles of the other schools were fantastic. I didn’t really expect to win the award after I watched the rest of the plays. But the second I heard my name being announced, I had my best friend clinging on me with proud tears and happiness which made the whole feeling of winning much better. I knew immediately that I had something to prove later on in the finals and I had the support of my entire cast for that. 

Q: Who motivated you to achieve it?

A: Well I never really told anybody about my goal of achieving this award so I had to be my own motivator. I knew the competition was tough and that I had to really work hard for this. Day in day out I would always take my lines, even on the way to practice or in class and the people in the bus would stare at me as if I had something weird on my face. But in the end it was all worth it.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: I build up my future on the way to it. I have quite a few paths that I want to go in. But I would say my main dream and objective is to be able to pilot an airplane and around that dream are a few minors that I will definitely be committing towards.

Q: Briefly introduce yourself to us?

A: My name is Sashini Mudalige and I am 19 years old. At the G.C.E. Ordinary Levels I was awarded 9 As and I am currently awaiting for my results for the G.C.E. Advanced Levels, which I sat for this year.

Q: Is this your first time taking part in the competition? 

A: This is my third year partaking in the Shakespeare Competition; before acting as Romeo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in this year’s performance done by Visakha Vidyalaya, in 2014 I played Mistress Ford, one of the Merry Wives in the play ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ and  in 2015 I acted as Titus Andronicus in the play ‘Titus Andronicus.’

Q: What inspired you to get in to acting and when did you first start taking part in dramas? 

A: I started taking part in drama about three years ago. Some of the seniors in my school urged me to take part in a House Drama; ‘Taming of the Shrew’, where I portrayed Petruchio. To this day this is one of my favourite roles because he speaks some of the wittiest lines I have ever heard. This role gave me the opportunity to win ‘Best Actor’ in the Inter house Drama Competition.

Q: Have you taken part in any other productions or drama competitions? 

A: I have participated in a public production done by Visakha Vidyalaya called ‘Brothers Grimm’ where I played a lead role.

Q: How do you feel about having won the award?

A: It is a very surreal feeling. I am still coming to grips with it.

Q: Who motivated you to achieve it?

A: It wasn’t in my mind at all. My main focus was to do justice to the role and putting up a worthy performance so that Visakha Vidyalaya would advance to the Finals. But I do thank our Directors Sashane Perera and Chalana Wijesuriya profusely for their unstinted, tireless guidance and support.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: I want to excel in the field of Accounting. I also want to write a few books as writing is a great passion of mine. However, I am not willing to let drama go and I am hoping to participate in future productions as well. One of my main goals in life is to support children afflicted by cancer.

Q: Briefly introduce yourself to us?

A: I am Devindi Galappatthy, and I am 15 years old. I am the current Junior Head Prefect of my school and I will be sitting for the G.C.E. O/L exam next year. I was the Junior Best Student of the Year in 2014 and the Best All-Rounder at the school prize givings when I was in Grades 6, 7 and 8.

Aside from drama I am Interested in photography, piano music, singing, debating and swimming. I won the best actress, best debater and best script writer awards at the school prize giving this year and I have participated in and won several creative writing competitions. I also emerged first in the ‘Light of Asia’ contest in both Basic and Primary category for girls. 

Q: Is this your first time taking part in the competition? 

A: This is my second time in the Shakespeare drama competition. Before portraying Rosalind in ‘As you like it’ this year, in 2015 I played Petruchio in the ‘Taming of the Shrew’ and I was nominated for Best Actress. 

Q: What inspired you to get in to acting and when did you first start taking part in dramas? 

A: I have been doing drama for as long as I can remember, acting in school productions and other events from my primary school days. I loved acting from the first time I stepped on a stage. The idea of being a whole new person, understanding someone else’s life and stepping into their shoes has always appealed to me and this is probably what inspired me to go on.

Q: Have you taken part in any other productions or drama competitions? 

A: Yes, several. Recently I participated in a public school production, ‘Ella Disenchanted’, staged at BMICH. I played the leading male role as Prince Charmont. I have also participated in inter-house drama competitions and several other drama competitions representing my school.

Q: How do you feel about having won the award?

A: It was completely unexpected and unreal. Of course, I feel extremely honoured to have won this award, which so many people have dreamed of winning. It has boosted my self-confidence and has really helped me improve my performance.

Q: Who motivated you to achieve it?

A: I never expected to win this award so I never tried to achieve it; I never had the goal of becoming the Best Actress in mind. Our Director, Vishan Gunawardena, directed us with the goal of doing our best and giving the audience a good show, not winning awards. Without his guidance I would not have won the award. The love, support and trust of the teacher in charge, our madam principal, my parents, my fellow cast members and friends really encouraged me and motivated me to push further and try harder. Our teacher in charge, Induwanthie Lewke-Bandara, was always there with us, motivating and encouraging us.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: After doing my O/Levels and A/Levels, I plan to do medicine and become a cardiologist, but drama will always be a big part of my life as a hobby. This award has motivated me to be strong and confident, to face the future successfully without doubting myself.