13 November 2024 11:33 am Views - 79
GPAC will stage Seasons of Love on the 16th and 17th of November 2024, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre Colombo
By Tiranya Yalindee Ranasinghe
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The highly anticipated theatre production, Seasons of Love is arriving at the Lionel Wendt Theatre in Colombo this weekend, on November 16th and 17th. Presented by the Glorious Performing Arts Committee, this captivating performance tells the story of a family journeying through life’s many seasons, from the harsh winter of pain and sorrow to the hopeful spring of new beginnings.
The Glorious Performing Arts Committee previously staged their debut production, The Miracle, which was met with great success. Shifting between the time of Jesus and the present day, the play wove together two narratives focused on the themes of faith in God and resilience.
Directed by Irandi Gunaratne, Shewan Jayaweera, and Sanjeev Jayaweera, this original musical play explores the diverse realities of modern-day families. With music and vocal arrangements by Naphtali Mendis and Irandi Gunaratne, the cast’s songs convey a powerful range of emotions—from family unity and finding humour in stressful situations to individual sorrow and the yearning for hope. The choreography, led by Shenali Jayaweera, offers a visual feast, seamlessly complementing the music and performances.
Setting itself apart from many other theatre productions, this play integrates video elements into its storytelling, produced by Shapthi Batcho and Shewan Jayaweera. The videos serve as a powerful tool to emphasise the family’s struggles, with the fluid transitions between stage and screen becoming a distinctive hallmark of GPAC’s storytelling style.
The story revolves around a family of five, led by David, a war veteran grappling with PTSD, and his wife Nora, who serves as the family’s anchor in his absence. Their three children—Michael, Laura, and Aaron—each face their own personal struggles, and the narrative unfolds as they navigate these challenges while also shouldering the responsibility of keeping the family united.
In a conversation with Iyvin Jesumaney, who portrays David, an insightful dialogue about mental health emerged. Usually treated as a taboo topic in Sri Lanka, the mental health challenges of war veterans and others affected by conflict frequently go unaddressed, leaving many families to suffer from the consequences of it. This story sheds light on the painful reality of those who are still living through the trauma, while also depicting their journey toward hope and healing.
In addition to directing the play, Irandi Gunaratne also takes on the role of Nora. She shares that balancing the responsibilities of directing and embodying Nora’s character has been quite a journey. As the playwright, directing came naturally, aligned with her vision for the production; however, portraying Nora has demanded an intense, immersive approach. She describes Seasons of Love as “an eye opener to those out there who have given up on things that they think would never be changed”, capturing the essence of the play beautifully.