• ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ returns ahead of election

With Sri Lanka on the cusp of a Presidential Election that has great potential to shape the long-term future of our nation, the country is fast approaching a crossroads. 

Ahead of the election, the Stages Theatre Group is bringing back to life its theatrical production ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ for a series of shows aimed at engaging our youth, especially those who are voting for the first time. 

Directed by acclaimed playwright and Stages Theatre Group Artistic Director Ruwanthie de Chickera with an original score by Ranil Goonawardena, ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ invites audiences to reflect on the country’s tumultuous journey from colonialism to independence and beyond, seen through the eyes of a generation born in the 1930s and 1940s. ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ is supported by the Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust, the Devar Surya Sena Centre Trust, and Chandra Jayaratne.

A changed political subconscious

‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ began as a project in 2015, a year marked by significant democratic changes in Sri Lanka. Ruwanthie, inspired by the shifting political landscape, sought to create a piece of theatre that would not only preserve the memories of an older generation but also engage younger audiences in understanding the impact of these historical events on their lives today. 

“This was a way to capture their voices, to ensure that their experiences and insights weren’t lost,” she explained. Through over 60 interviews with individuals from all walks of life, ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ compiles these stories into a powerful narrative that spans seven decades.

The play, first created in 2016, has received high praise for its dynamic storytelling and succinct portrayal of macro-events. Across seven scenes (one for each decade of independence), the play dives into personal memories, using these memories to illustrate key events that shaped the nation. 

From the introduction of the Sinhala Only Act in 1956 to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) rise in 1971 to the 1983 Black July riots to the JVP insurgency of 1989 and more, ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ covers a broad spectrum of Sri Lanka’s postcolonial history, often using the exact words of the interviewees (with some creative interpretation to enhance the narrative). 

Ruwanthie’s approach to storytelling in ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ is both respectful and dramatic and looks to highlight what she calls “the turning points of each decade” – points in each decade when Sri Lanka, for better or worse, made decisions that would have long-term impacts on the future. 

Ruwanthie’s decision to restage ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ ahead of the Presidential Election is intentional. Recent events like the ‘Aragalaya’ have reshaped our political landscape and most importantly, our youth are now more engaged in politics than ever before. Many of these youths will now be voting for the first time. 

Sri Lanka is in a very powerful position of being able to set the tone for a longer-term future. “We are at a point where we need to learn from our past mistakes. The ‘Aragalaya’ changed our political subconscious. The change has gone very deep. People from all backgrounds have started thinking about new issues and the upcoming election is going to be an important democratic event,” Ruwanthie explained. 

A catalyst for reflection

‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ serves as a call to action as well as a tool of education, something Ruwanthie feels is essential for youth as she has recognised a gap when it comes to postcolonial history education in Sri Lanka’s school syllabus, which leaves the youth blind to decisions from the recent past that have impacted the country and its systems in the present. 

“The play is a call for informed civic participation. As artists, we wanted to add our impact to this new movement of thinking, and contribute in some way by giving audiences the chance to reflect intelligently on our past and learn about the mistakes we have made before.”

With this objective of educating, ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ aims to be accessible to a wide audience. The play is being performed in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, with subtitles to ensure that language is not a barrier to understanding. 

Furthermore, post-show discussions will be held after each performance, offering audiences an opportunity to engage directly with the themes of the play and to reflect on their own experiences and perspectives.

As the election approaches, Ruwanthie hopes that ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ will serve as a catalyst for dialogue and reflection. She believes that by revisiting the past, Sri Lankans can make more informed decisions about the future. 

“This election could be a turning point and it’s crucial that we understand where we’ve come from before we decide where we’re going,” she said. 

Through ‘Dear Children, Sincerely,’ Ruwanthie hopes to offer not just a play, but a powerful lesson in history, memory, and the importance of learning from the past as well.

Performance dates

• 14 Sept. at 6.30 p.m. – Organised by Harmony Center, Boralesgamuwa
• 18 Sept. at 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. – University of Kelaniya (discounted student shows) 
• 19 Sept. at 7 p.m. – Lionel Wendt, Colombo 7

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