• ‘You are the Best’ cast and crew discuss the importance of theatre

Sri Lanka’s education system and cultural attitudes towards excellence tend to focus on academic achievements, and yet, educational institutes and authorities do provide students with platforms to explore their creativity and passion for the arts. 

Once such platform is the State Children’s Drama Festival, with ‘You are the Best’, directed by Sudarshana Bandara and presented by students of Lyceum International School, Gampaha, dominating the Limited Category (English) at the 2024 festival.

‘You are the Best’ won Best Drama Production, as well as Best Stage Setup (Jennifer Jonson), Best Stage Management (Devruk Ratnayake and Windya Shankala), Best Lighting (Bandara), Best Script (Bandara), Best Choreography (Ishan Ranathunga), Best Music (Binudi and Tinara Kahanda), Best Makeup (Ranathunga and Bandara), and Best Costume (Ranatunge and Jonson).

Many students were also recognised for their acting. This includes Isindu Batagoda (Best Actor), Thanya Rajaguru (Best Actress), Chanuli Wattegedara (Best Actress Second Place), Risath Bandara (Best Actor Third Place), and Abeeth Ayuka (Merit Award for Acting).

The Daily Morning Brunch had the opportunity to speak with the ‘You are the Best’ cast and crew as well as the Lyceum International School, Gampaha Principal Thilanka Karunaratne to understand more about the role theatre plays in a student’s life and why it is important for students to be given opportunities to follow their artistic interests.

A remarkable achievement

Karunaratne shared that ‘You are the Best’ received 17 awards and one merit under 14 titles at the State Children’s Drama Festival 2024 – a remarkable achievement for the school.

She took the opportunity to thank all the staff members, students, and parents who were involved in the massive production, making a special mention of Lyceum International School, Gampaha Director Dr. Dilmi Rathnayake for providing the cast with all necessary resources.

“My special thanks goes to Sudarshana Bandara for being the main pillar of this achievement. Also, Ishan Ranathunga, Jennifer Jonson, Windya Shankala, and Devruk Ratnayake for their untiring efforts, guidance, and support in this accomplishment with our students,” she said, adding: “I should mention that our students are truly talented. Their commitment together with their parents should also be highly appreciated.”

When asked if the school had any further plans for ‘You are the Best’, Karunaratne said she thought the drama should be seen by students from other schools as well. “We might not be able to show it to all of them, but at least to a few. Sudarshana Bandara is working on it, and I hope it will succeed very soon,” she said, adding that ‘You are the Best’ delivers an important message to society.

A space for talent development

Karunaratne explained that Lyceum International School, Gampaha encouraged children to partake in extracurricular activities, including theatre, as a way to develop their talents and build confidence. “The school organises various events and programmes, such as drama competitions, concerts, and assemblies, where students can showcase their acting skills.”

The Drama Club, she said, was led by Bandara, an experienced professional who helps students improve their theatrical abilities. “Additionally, our teachers actively support and guide students to improve the students’ acting skills at school special assemblies.”

Citing an example, Karunaratne spoke of ‘Thrimana’, a short movie produced by one of the school’s teachers, Chanuka Senanayake, for Children’s Day with the involvement of students and teachers. “Additionally, apart from the State Children’s Drama Festival, we send students for the Chandran Rutnam Inter-school Short Film Competition as well,” she added.

Karunaratne went on to say: “By providing such platforms, Lyceum Gampaha ensures that students have multiple opportunities to explore and excel in theatre, fostering creativity, teamwork, and self-expression.”

She explained that when students engage in theatre, they learn how to express and control their emotions. “I strongly believe that they cannot act in a character unless they understand and feel it themselves. This gives them practice in empathising with others and becoming more sensitive individuals in real life. Additionally, performances in theatre help students develop their personality and build confidence in various aspects of their lives.”

Thus, the biggest opportunity students gain from theatre is in their own lives, she said, pointing out that students become strong and balanced individuals who can handle any situation. Theatre also teaches students to work together with each other by improving their communication and leadership skills. “More importantly, it gives children the opportunity to be exposed to the world, showing others who they are,” Karunaratne explained. She was of the belief that students gain invaluable opportunities and exposure that contribute to their personal and professional growth in the future through theatre.

From one generation to the next

Something that stands out about the cast and crew of ‘You are the Best’ is its mother-daughter winners. While Windya Shankala was recognised for her work in stage management, her daughter Thanya Rajaguru won Best Actress at the State Children’s Drama Festival 2024.

Windya thanked both Bandara and Ranathunga for being easy to work with and guiding her in stage management. This was her first professional production, Windya said, but added that she too, was drawn to the stage while schooling. Windya was also awarded for her acting in school, and said seeing her daughter receive similar recognition was like seeing a younger version of herself.

At the time of the production of ‘You are the Best’, Windya was the teacher in charge of the Drama Club, and worked with Ratnayake on stage management. About the award she won with Ratnayake, Windya said it all came down to teamwork and collaboration. “So, my award goes to everyone involved in the drama. It’s not only mine. It’s ours.”

In terms of the opportunities in theatre, Windya said children get more opportunities today, with Lyceum International School, Gampaha giving students a supportive background to shine. She went on to say that students learn many skills through drama, from behaviour, discipline, and teamwork to social development.

She mentioned the school management, including Dr. Ratnayake and Karunaratne, saying: “They give these opportunities to children. If they don’t allow our students to go ahead with them, the students won’t shine in society like this. So, I should be thankful to the school, especially to the management.”

Sharing her experience in theatre, Thanya said there was something addictive about walking on stage and knowing hundreds of people were watching you – about being in the spotlight. “You get to shine. There’s something addictive about going on stage and knowing that I’m going to do my best, I’m going to bring out the best in this character that I’ve been developing and studying, that I’ve been acting and bringing out my own interpretation of.”

She added that drama had helped her in her path so far, saying: “If it wasn’t for the life experiences I gained from it and the valuable insights to my personality it gave me, I would never have come so far as to becoming the President of the Drama Club, Choir Leader, Head Prefect, and the Best Actress two times in a row in our Inter-house Drama Competition.”

Thanya added: “I can’t thank my school, Lyceum International School, Gampaha, my parents, and Sudarshana Bandara enough for having seen the best in me and doing their utmost to bring it out and shape me into who I am today.”

Transformative outlet

According to Isindu Batagoda, who won Best Actor at the State Children’s Drama Festival, extracurriculars like theatre are vital because they shape students into well-rounded individuals. “Theatre, in particular, fosters empathy, creativity, and collaboration. It helps students build confidence, learn teamwork, and express themselves in ways that traditional academics often don’t offer. These experiences prepare us not just for careers but for life, teaching resilience, communication, and the importance of human connections.”

Isindu has found theatre to be a transformative outlet, allowing him to express emotions and ideas he may otherwise struggle to articulate. “It’s a place where I can channel my creativity into something deeply meaningful and connect with people on a deep level. It has taught me the power of storytelling – not just to entertain, but to inspire, heal, and foster empathy.”

Speaking about his character in ‘You are the Best’, Isindu said playing John was a particularly significant experience, as it allowed him to delve into vulnerability and courage, both on and off the stage. “The character’s journey mirrored emotions that we often keep hidden, and portraying him helped me embrace my own feelings more openly.”

“Every performance feels like an emotional journey – one that strengthens my ability to communicate, deepens my understanding of human nature, and empowers me to express who I am. Theatre has also taught me teamwork, resilience, and the beauty of creating something greater than myself, which has enriched both my creativity and my personal growth,” Isindu added.

He acknowledged the unwavering support from his school and his family, saying: “At home, my family’s encouragement has been my greatest strength. They are my guiding light, teaching me to trust my school, seize every opportunity it offers, and approach everything I do with perfection and dedication. They’ve instilled in me the values of discipline, humility, and the true essence of life – reminding me that being a good human being is more important than simply excelling academically.”

Isindu said his school fostered a culture of creativity, providing students with incredible platforms to explore and excel in the arts. He also credited his school for teaching him the importance of balance, especially when it comes to managing academics alongside extracurricular activities.

This balance is something Chanuli Wattegedara, who won Best Actress Second Place, spoke about as well. She said that many students today find it hard to balance between academic learning and extracurricular activities. However, the latter helps students achieve this balance. “I’m a prefect at school and theatre has helped me with balancing my school life. It also helps me learn lots of things, like leadership skills and public speaking.”

Chanuli added: “I got to know myself more than I had known myself two years ago after I started acting. I learnt about my skills and how I can become better with this field and it really helped me be a better person.”

She explained that her personality evolved from theatre.

The Daily Morning Brunch also spoke to Abeeth Ayuka, who won a Merit Award for Acting. “Theatre has helped me express myself by letting me step into different characters and share their feelings and stories. It’s a way to show parts of myself that I might not usually share. It has also helped me be more creative because I get to think about how to bring a character to life, from their actions to their emotions,” he said of the importance of theatre.

Abeeth added: “Being on stage has made me more confident and free to explore new ideas.”