Open Air Theatre

Sarachchandra Theatre at Peradeniya University seats over 2,500. It is the biggest venue for dramas in Sri Lanka. Every year it hosts a drama festival called Wale Sellam (Plays in the Pit). This very popular event was held in Februray this year and we were fortunate to see two events and refresh sweet memories.

‘Charandas’ is a Sinhalese adaptation of an Indian play about a thief who has taken a vow not to lie or to become king. He is a popular thief and gets elected to rule the country but not king. The cast included many Tamil actors!

‘Sudu Redi Hora’ (a local bird) is a political satire about a journalist who meets a tragic end trying to report politics truthfully. It was produced by Jayalath Manorathne, my contemporary at Peradeniya University. It was his fortieth year performing at ‘Wale Sellam’!