- The first-ever Kolamba Kamatha Festival opens on 27 March
Sri Lanka’s theatre scene is about to witness a major transformation with the inaugural Kolamba Kamatha Festival (KKF), set to take place from 27-30 March at BMICH, Colombo. Timed to coincide with World Theatre Day, the festival aims to celebrate and elevate Sinhala, Tamil, and English theatre, showcasing diversity while creating a vibrant cultural hub for performers and audiences alike.
At its core, the KKF is a bold reimagination of what a theatre festival can be. Unlike traditional festivals, where one to two performances are spaced out over multiple days, KKF adopts a multi-venue, multi-show format, enabling audiences to immerse themselves in up to seven productions per day across six distinct venues.
New approach to the theatre festival
KKF Director Chanchala Gunawardena highlighted this unique approach: “Something we did not realise was novel about KKF is that we will have multiple shows covering English, Sinhala, and Tamil theatre over the course of four days. Festivals usually do one show a day with different plays being repeated, but we simply programmed towards the vision we had,” she shared.
This structure not only allows theatre lovers to experience a wider variety of productions, but also fosters an atmosphere of continuous artistic engagement.
Moreover, KKF marks the grand opening of a brand-new 230-seat theatre, adding another dynamic performance space to Sri Lanka’s cultural landscape. The festival’s other venues, ranging from open-air settings to intimate black box theatres, offer a diverse range of theatrical experiences suited to different styles and formats of performance.
KKF is built on the foundation of Kolamba Kamatha, a dedicated theatre space within BMICH that was established in November 2022. The vision behind Kolamba Kamatha and its festival finds its roots in the long-standing passion for the arts of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who serves as the festival’s Lead Adviser.
Gunawardena acknowledged Kumaratunga’s pivotal role in bringing the festival to life, sharing: “The Kolamba Kamatha venue is something she had envisioned for a long time. She wanted to have a festival around it and has been the engine behind this entire vision. She has a genuine love of theatre and is really overlooked as a creative individual – she paints, plays the piano, reads extensively, and used to dance and act.”
Therefore, the festival serves as a realisation of a long-standing dream of creating a thriving and inclusive space for theatre in Sri Lanka.
Strengthening the Lankan theatre community
Beyond the performances, KKF aspires to be a hub for theatre practitioners and audiences. Gunawardena draws inspiration from her own experience attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which transforms the entire city into a cultural epicentre.
“More than just being a space for theatre, we hope to create a sense of atmosphere and community within the Kolamba Kamatha premises. In addition to attending shows, we are working with the idea of going behind the scenes and showing and talking about the craft itself, especially to aspiring theatre practitioners,” she stated.
Emerging theatre is also paid homage to through a national short play competition organised by the Kolamba Kamatha as part of a broader vision designed to nurture emerging playwrights and directors and position the venue as a national theatre hub.
Organised as part of the festival’s broader vision for Kolamba Kamatha as a theatre hub, the competition’s final will be staged at KKF with the three finalists, who will stage their productions on 29 March before a jury panel. Awards will be presented for Best Direction, Best Script, and Best Acting, further solidifying the festival’s commitment to supporting and recognising fresh talent.
The festival also seeks to celebrate the Sri Lankan theatre landscape across language, style, and accessibility. Festival Curator Bimsara Premaratne explained: “We had a clear mandate from the start that KKF would be trilingual and incorporate all three mediums of language. We did not look at a theme per se, except that of celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of everything that local theatre has to offer, from classical to modern to experimental to children’s theatre.
“We have approached it from a modern perspective, targeting different age genres. If you look at the schedule, there is at least one or two things for every person, whether you watch plays all the time or have never been to the theatre.”
Going beyond performance alone
One of the standout features of KKF is its interactive programming, designed to give aspiring theatre practitioners and general audiences deeper insight into the creative process. The festival will host seven curated sessions, covering everything from acting techniques to production design and theatre writing.
Emphasising the importance of these initiatives, Gunawardena said: “There is a lot of desire for support in this space. Many people have this creative energy and want somewhere to go to, but the arts is a challenging space with theatre being one of the least resourced. This is a small step – having sessions with actors and practitioners to showcase different aspects of theatre.”
A key factor she highlighted was a career guidance session by international theatre expert Peter D’Almeida, aimed at helping young artists navigate the transition from theatre as a hobby to a sustainable career. Other workshops will explore makeup techniques, production skills, and script development, providing participants with practical knowledge applicable to their own artistic journeys.
To further enhance the festival’s immersive experience, KKF will feature a festival marketplace, offering art, crafts, food, and interactive activities. Gunawardena described the marketplace as a space designed to complement the festival’s theatrical offerings.
The marketplace will also host face painting, live sketches, and open-air performances, encouraging festival-goers to engage with theatre beyond the stage.
She also expressed her thanks to the supporters of the festival, including Platinum Sponsor Cargills, Gold Sponsors Mahesh and Shaila Amalean, Silver Sponsor NDB Wealth, Festival Market Sponsor Commercial Bank, and Exclusive Media Partner MTV Networks and MBC Radio.
KKF is not just about the present; it is about laying the groundwork for an annual celebration of theatre that will continue to grow in scale and impact. Gunawardena expressed hope that the festival would expand beyond Colombo, much like other successful cultural initiatives.
“We recognise others in the space doing great work, and as we try to innovate, we hope that this platform and the space behind it can take these stories to bigger audiences, both local and global,” she said.
Tickets for KKF are structured to ensure widespread accessibility:
- General Pass: Rs. 3,000 (valid for any three events)
- Student Pass: Rs. 500 (with valid student ID)
Tickets are available via the festival website and at the Kolamba Kamatha registration office at BMICH
Web.: https://kolambakamatha.com