- A step forward in experiential theatre
By Naveed Rozais
That the creative arts have taken an immense beating these past three years is beyond doubt. From the Easter attacks to the pandemic to the national crisis, each of these setbacks has had a crippling impact on the arts, and of course, on artists.
Theatre was no exception, and now, three years on, it is imperative for theatre to get back on its feet, and more importantly, for audiences to get their feet back into theatres. Theatre is a form of art that transcends barriers, brooks debate, sparks thought, and provides an escape.
At the risk of sounding nihilistic, now, more than ever, is a time to value escape, especially the kind that art like theatre can provide, and CentreStage Productions, one of Sri Lanka’s few theatre troupes that focus solely on English language theatre productions, is proposing just that; an escape that combines two of the most powerful things in life – theatre and food.
Epicurean Theatre: an entirely new theatre-food experience
Conceived and curated by veteran dramatist and CentreStage Productions Sri Lanka Chairman and Artistic Director Jehan Aloysius, ‘Epicurean Theatre’ is a unique concept set to shake up Colombo’s nightlife, through carefully curated entertainment experiences that blend theatre and food in a much more meaningful way that is so much more than just the traditional dinner-theatre format that most people are familiar with.
Jehan shared with The Sunday Morning Brunch that part of what would make Epicurean Theatre so unique was that it would take place in the form of small, intimate performances (up to groups of 50 people) that would deviate from the traditional cabaret theatre (where performances take place in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience eats or drinks at tables), focusing on creating a more immersive, holistic epicurean theatre experience.
“Two of my greatest passions are food and theatre and Epicurean Theatre caters to a very discerning audience who are looking for a bespoke theatre and food experience that is tailored to their tastes and needs. The performances will essentially range from musical theatre to comedies to little whodunit plays, and the food experiences will be just that – experiential. It will feel like part of the show and the themes of the show will influence the themes of the food. We’ve had discussions with mixologists and chefs at our planned venues to build the kind of experience that will excite audiences and hopefully have them following Epicurean Theatre from location to location and performance to performance,” Jehan explained.
A personal milestone for CentreStage Productions
Epicurean Theatre will take place to mark CentreStage Productions’ 21st anniversary which takes place on 19 November, with Jehan sharing that this milestone was something he was eager to celebrate, especially since events over the last three years had prevented CentreStage Productions from staging their normal productions, despite several thwarted attempts do so.
The ensemble taking part in Epicurean Theatre’s performance hopes to include familiar faces from CentreStage Productions’ 21-year history, including Shehara Liyanage (radio personality, lead singer in solo concerts, Soul Sounds, Les Miserables), Devashri De Silva (lead roles in Phantom, Cinderella, Next to Normal, solo concerts), Dmitri Gunathilake (lead roles in Phantom, Evita, Sound of Music, Rag, solo concerts), Sean Amarasekara (lead roles in Phantom, Les Miserables, musical theatre scene), Dion Nanayakkara (lead roles in Rag, Pyramus and Thisby, The Voice), Ayushka Nugaliyadda (lead roles in Fun Home, Les Miserables, Camarati Choir), and of course, Jehan himself.
Jehan founded CentreStage Productions in 2001 as an amateur theatre troupe that focuses on original theatre productions. A small team, CentreStage Productions consists of its Production Manager Dion Nanayakkara (since 2017), Tech Manager Michael Jayawardana, and Music Director Avanti Perera (both of whom have been with CentreStage Productions since 2001).
CentreStage Productions’ humanitarian arm – The StageHands Project – uses theatre as a tool for education and social change, as well as psychosocial development. This project also initiated a system for teaching and enabling creativity of those living with special needs – including soldiers injured during the war. Many original productions by the troupe have been studied or included in the syllabi of local universities.
A gateway back into theatre
Epicurean Theatre forms a new approach to theatre that Jehan shared he hoped would get audiences excited again. “It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to stage a full production at the Lionel Wendt. Every time we’ve got ready and excited for a new project, something has happened in the country that has prevented us from performing,” Jehan explained, noting that audiences too had shown to be reluctant to return to theatres after having lost touch with going to the theatre for so long.
“We are hoping that Epicurean Theatre is our way to get people inspired and back in theatres again. We’re all looking at ways to revitalise the economy, especially hotels and restaurants, and this kind of organic experiential theatre event can help play a part.”
“Theatre has had to evolve with the times and with the changing needs of audiences. The pandemic and the economic and fuel crises were a significant blow to the entertainment industries and to creative practitioners. We are excited about Epicurean Theatre’s series of exclusive events for intimate audiences, which will hopefully encourage audiences to fill up the theatres once more,” Jehan concluded.
For more information and updates on Epicurean Theatre and CentreStage Productions, please follow them on Facebook and Instagram on @centrestage.lk.
