• Tasmin Anthonisz on directing ‘Skylight’, to be staged from 4-6 April

For some, the many forms of art that exist and are practised in this world are a way of escaping the mundanity of everyday life. For others, arts provide a space for introspection and reflection, through stories and creations that they see themselves in. And of course, sometimes arts couple the two, allowing us to escape from our lives while also reflecting on our lives. This applies to theatre as well, even though often, there is a distance between the actors on stage and the audience watching from their seats.

For those looking for situations, characters, and conversations they are likely to relate to, ‘Skylight’ will be of interest. A play by David Hare, centred on the characters of Kyra Hollis, a maths teacher in a poor area of London, Tom Sergeant, a wealthy restaurateur, and Edward Sergeant, Tom’s son, ‘Skylight’ will be staged at Punchi Theatre, Borella, from 4-6 April. The production is directed and produced by Tasmin Anthonisz and features Ayudhya Gajanayake, Rehan Almeida, and Akmal Hamid.

Describing the play, Anthonisz said: “Sometimes comical, sometimes deeply sincere and heartbreakingly moving, the play has often been described as political because it talks about how the elite interacts with and often discounts the lower classes, the degradation of human consideration that comes with chasing money, and how those who have fallen on either side of the poverty line find meaning in life.”

She pointed out that these are themes that are very relatable to the Sri Lankan audience right now as the country works towards economic recovery.

Speaking to The Daily Morning Brunch, Anthonisz went into detail about the play and what drew her to it, as well as her journey in theatre and the role of the director in theatre.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

Tell us about your journey in theatre and your varying roles on and off stage.

I started as an actor while in school, and it was always the space I felt most welcome to be my weirdest self, so naturally I chose to make a living out of it. Practising theatre, as with any art form, is a process of discovery, of the craft, of yourself, and how your work fits in with the grander scheme of things.

I’ve lost track of how many shows I have been a part of at this point, on or off stage, but I can tell you that every single one has taught me something new about the craft, either from a production standpoint or a performer’s perspective, and I am grateful to have had those experiences fuelling whatever insights I have in my current projects.

The ‘Skylight’ cast, from left: Akmal Hamid, Rehan Almeida, and Ayudhya Gajanayake

You are the founder of Studiolusion. What kind of productions are presented by Studiolusion? 

We’ve always tried to present shows that are unorthodox, fresh, and relatable to our audiences; that carry with them an emotional undercurrent people can take away and hold on to for some time after. ‘Skylight’ is certainly that, with its deeper threads of personal history weaving through light banter, which makes the poignancy of the moment that much more impactful.

What does the work of a director look like? What excites you about directing?

The way I see it, my job is to shape the play. My actors trust me to act as a sounding board to tell them if they’re on the right path, and it is a very open, collaborative give and take between all of us in the rehearsal space. Directing is a very different headspace to acting. As an actor, you get fully immersed into your side of the story. As a director, you get to see how all sides should come together. It’s storytelling. And the job is to make all the elements of the story weave together. When it does, that’s when the joy hits. It’s like you’ve suddenly made sense of the universe. Albeit a very small one, for a very small period in time.

You will be presenting ‘Skylight’ in April. Tell us about the play and what made you want to present it.

‘Skylight’ is about two people who belong to very different socio-political backgrounds coming together for a brief moment in time. It’s a bittersweet love story, because these two characters were the love of each other’s lives. But their values are so different, there is no way they could ever be truly happy together. 

I fell in love with the script, and I felt that the situation, the characters, and a lot of what they talk about are all things people will see and identify with.

‘Skylight’ Director/Producer Tasmin Anthonisz

What does the ‘Skylight’ cast look like? What can you tell us about the experience of working with the actors?

Like the ideal Kyra, Tom, and Edward. Granted our Tom is younger than the character is supposed to be, and Rehan looks young for his age as it is. So we have to age him up a bit. But for the most part, they will be their natural beautiful selves.

How do the themes of the play relate to Sri Lanka today? What makes it a play people should see?

It’s set in London at a time of economic recovery and political transition: the Major-Blair era. And a lot of the dialogue delves into the effect of cold policy making on the people at the bottom of the social ladder, who feel it the most. That’s the atmosphere, the background. And then you have two people who are both aware and unaware of how they fit into the context around them. And they’re not terrible people, they’re just preoccupied with their own personal drama to register the irony. Or perhaps it’s the stubbornness of not wanting to give in to the other.

What do you hope the audience will take with them after watching the production?

I really can’t say. A satisfactory experience, closure. Maybe even some insight if the play is a little too relatable. But a story to unpack, certainly.

A demanding performance

Speaking to The Daily Morning Brunch, Ayudhya Gajanayake, who plays Kyra Hollis in ‘Skylight’, described Kyra as a very likeable character, who is kind, intelligent, and quite witty. Kyra is a very middle class girl, who has lived quite a vibrant, exciting life, Gajanayake said, adding that the character’s turning point is when she meets Tom (played by Rehan Almeida) and falls in love.

“At the moment of the play, we meet her when she has moved to a completely different, very poor part of the city, leaving behind her life with Tom. She is quite isolated in her cold, shabby apartment and commits her whole life to teaching children from tough backgrounds,” Gajanayake said, adding that it is only quite later in the play that the audience learns about why she left and why she continues to live in very questionable conditions, which drives Tom mad.

“But it all comes out in time, and a story of love and loss slowly unfolds over the period of the play,” the actress shared.

“In Act 2, she really lets her guard down and speaks with a lot of sincerity, which is very powerful. What is most challenging is that she is also quite conflicted internally at this moment in her life and to play that internal conflict of hurt and longing glossed over with reasoning and a hardened demeanour is quite demanding,” Gajanayake said, when asked what was most challenging about playing the character.

Playing a flawed character

Rehan Almeida, who plays Tom Sergeant in ‘Skylight’, was drawn to theatre during school, acting in Shakespeare Drama Competitions. He was on stage for the first time when he was just four years old, but said that what drew him in was the enjoyment of the productions he was a part of later in life. “I’m very grateful to all the directors and theatre companies I have worked with for cultivating such a passionate part of my life.”

When asked about the character he plays in ‘Skylight’, Almeida explained that Tom is a very complicated character – “potentially the most complicated I have played” – because he is so flawed. “He is narcissistic, sexist, and misogynistic, just to cover the tip of the iceberg. But he truly loves Kyra and it is in the background of his heartbreak that he gets back in touch with her after a failed affair. So there are a lot of layers to play around with. It’s very interesting, but extremely challenging,” Almeida said.

Elaborating further, Almeida said it is challenging having to play such a flawed character while trying to get the audience to connect with him. He shared: “What is appealing though is the fact that although he is flawed, there are parts of him that everyone in the audience will have felt at some stage of their lives. It causes us to introspect and hold a mirror to our own lives, which is the biggest appeal to an actor. I do hope the audience enjoys the show!”

PHOTOS Lalith Perera