News updates for Workshops ↓

In the build up to Samanalayaya 2008, Sunera organized a 5 day residential TOT in Malabe, where all our trainers received valuable input and knowledge on stage management, script writing and performance related activities.  They will now utilise this training to put  together their individual performances for this year’s drama festival.

Play from Vidivu performance staged at the BMICH on April 3, 2007

With the successful completion of the pilot project in March 2007, Sunera Foundation in partnership with the CWDF (Citizen Welfare Development Foundation) continues to offer free performing arts workshops in Maskeliya and Hatton for young persons with disabilities. Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 workshops will be conducted weekly in the upcountry tea plantations. In addition, 2 Street Theatre Groups will be established and major performances will be staged to showcase the talents of the disabled while raising awareness of their human rights. See more on this project under the Plantations Project page.

Sunera Foundation workshop leaders enjoyed a special treat recently as they received a visit from Alison Skilbeck, a noted actress from the UK.

Alison, a long-time friend of our Chairperson Sunethra Bandaranaike, organised a special two-day workshop for our trainers to further develop their creative skills using new theatrical techniques.

Over the two days, our trainers were put through their paces on different theatrical aspects including: vocal work, storytelling, dialogue and scripts. At the end of the workshop, Alison praised the trainers for their attentiveness and willingness to learn .

Alison’s visit is merely the first of many expected under Sunera’s new drive to expose our workshop trainers to wider variety of theatrical types and practices.

Funded by the World Bank for Development, workshops in performing arts were held in five selected districts for the differently abled and those who have been traumatised by the ethnic conflict.

Deutsche Bank Project - Awareness Raising and Educational workshops by Butterflies Theatre Company. Sunera has been working with disadvantaged people and igniting their creativity through dance, music and the performing arts for many years now, but there is still resistance within society to recognize the creative abilities of these people.