Colombo International Theatre Festival kicks off next week

For the second year, the Colombo International Theatre Festival (CITF) organised by Inter Act Art is set to take place on 28 March at the British School in Colombo, with the opening ceremony to take place on the day before on World Theatre Day at the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

CITF will go on for eight days with seven countries – India, Austria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nepal and the host country – performing at this festival. Held under the theme ‘Theatre for the young audience’, CITF aims to enhance the knowledge of the Sri Lanka youth to a more open platform, thereby transforming Sri Lankan theatre for the better.

Besides the performances by the seven participating countries, there will be four plays that will take place out of Colombo which have been selected for the ‘Kavitha’ programmers organised by the Ministry of Higher Education. These plays will be performed by four prominent universities in Sri Lanka – University of Batticaloa, University of Kelaniya, University of Peradeniya and University of Colombo (Sri Pali Mandapaya).

CITF will also conduct workshops and discussions at the Goethe Institute Colombo featuring distinguished local and foreign theatrical professionals and directors such as Karin Schafer, Shrikant Bhide, Vidyanidhee Vanarase, M. Safeer, Kaustubh Bankapure, Prakrama Niriella and Ajay Joshi.

During this eight day theatre festival, each ambassador and the high commissioner of the performing country will act as chief guests. This year, CITF will felicitate eight individuals – M.D. Ranjith Silva, D.K. Artigala, Priyankara Rathnayaka, Saman Gamini, Rev Joshua, Amith Rabbadagala, Ruwanthie De Chickera and Tracy Holsinger who have improved and rendered their services to Sri Lankan theatre.