Kalumaali returns for a worthy cause

Ruwanthie de Chickera’s most popular original play ‘Kalumaali: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ which debuted to full houses in mid-September, is back by demand. This time it will be staged to raise funds for the Sri Lankhadara Society Building Fund.

The show will be a one-off English performance on Sunday 7 April at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7.30 p.m. The cast is packed with talent including Kaushalya Fernando, Gihan de Chickera, Lakmini Seneviratne, Miranga Ariyaratne and Juanita Beling.

All proceeds from the ticket sales are in aid of the Sri Lankadhara Society Building Fund for renovation of the building complex. The building houses Balika Home for orphaned and less privileged girls, Senior Citizens Home, Infants Home, Pre-School and daycare centre, and the Elders daycare centre.

The Sri Lankadhara Society, a registered charity, founded in 1922 by the late Dr. W.A. de Silva and Catherine de Silva; has become one of the most well-established social service organisations in Sri Lanka, serving the underprivileged for over nine decades.   As an institution recognised by and accredited with the Departments of Probation and Child Care services, social services, as well as the Juvenile Courts, the Society’s objective is to address the needs of the disadvantaged and less privileged.

The building, located at No. 95, W.A. Silva Mawatha Colombo 05, is now over 90 years. Having been unable to carry out major repairs due to lack of financial resources, now the building urgently requires major structural repairs and renovation estimated to cost approximately Rs. 13 million.  

The staging of Kalumaali is one the projects the society is undertaking to raise the required funds. Therefore, support this worthy cause, whilst enjoying a unique story that has been billed as ‘Not just another predictable fairy tale’ and is a distinctive theatre project dealing with an issue that touches everyone parenting.

Kalumaali is based on an extended writing project involving 13 women of the English and Sinhala theatre, which resulted in a 300-page bilingual manuscript titled ‘Cast as Mother’.

Tickets are priced ranging from Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 while balcony tickets available at Rs. 350, are on sale from 27 March at the Lionel Wendt and Gandhara Stratford Avenue.