| Events & News |
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| Our Creative Director wins TOYP 2009 Award |
Thidora Theatre,s Creative Director Ramani Damayanthi was the only female to win the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Sri Lanka [TOYP2009]. She won the trophy on her contribution to the well-being of children.
The ceremony was organized by the Junior Chamber International Sri Lanka and HSBC bank and was held recently in Colombo. D.P.M.T.Jayamanna, Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, M.U.M.Ali Sabry, Wasantha Dukgannarala, Ajantha Mendis [Sri Lankan Cricketer], Prof; Sisil Kumarawadu, Dr. P.Katulanda, S.A.Anurudha Bandara and Asitha Pinnawadu were the others who won the awards.
Since 1990 Ramani Damayanthi has conducted Drama Therapy workshops to enable the disabled. Her talent and commitment makes her a great asset to spread the concept of inclusive education using drama therapy to enable the disabled and pave the way for disadvantaged to become fully-fledged human beings.
Though she has won the Best Actress Award in 1994, 1995 & 1998 at the National Youth Drama Festival and 1996 at the State Drama Festival and has appeared in numerous Stage and Television plays as a prominent actress, she was not contented in just remaining a Star and dedicated her talent to enhance the lives of children with special needs using theatre art as a therapeutic tool and reached a milestone as a key member of the Thidora Theatre which was introduced the first ever integrated theatre troupe in Sri Lanka. For more details of her work please visit their website on www.thidoratheatre.org
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| Launched of a website to support puppeteers in Sri Lanka |
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Thidora-Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy launched a website – www.puppetrylk.com recently under the patronage of honorable Mahinda Yapa Abewardane -Minister of cultural affairs and national heritage, to promote Sri Lanka puppetry. The website from which many can access the work of the puppeteers will lead to a better understanding of puppetry in Sri Lanka and also get them the necessary international exposure. |
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[In the picture from left; Rohana Deva- Chairman of Thidora theatre, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana- Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mr. Vimal Rubasinghe- Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mr. Pandula Edagama- Chairman of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka, Prof; Lionel Bentarage and Dr. Leel Gunasekara, at the occasion.] |
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| Heeling through Beauty Therapy |
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We were fortunate to start a beauty therapy workshop for our participants with the help of well versed beauty therapist, Mrs. Samadhi Nanayakkara. She has given all necessary facilities and has been conducting the work shop on every Friday at her well constructed saloon named Samadhi Hair and Beauty care Saloon at Thalawathugoda junction, free of charge. |
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| “Thei Yath Tha” went on board successfully |
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Thei Yath Tha went on board successfully with the first ever integrated percussion ensemble formed by intellectually disabled in Sri Lanka as well as the only dancers with intellectually disabilities who performed the traditional “Gini Sisila” [dancing with fire], on 22nd December 2009 at the Jana Kala Kendra auditorium and 08th January 2010 at the John De Silva Memorial Theatre –Colombo. The play was sponsored by the Project Ahimsa of USA. Read more... |
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| A percussion ensemble with special needs |
ThIDORATheatre has signed a MOU with Project Ahimsa-USA, to establish the first ever integrated percussion ensemble titled “Theiyath Tha” with the participation of children with special needs in Sri Lanka. Thirty children with special needs from different ethnicities (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim – the main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka), religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christian) and genders who are regular students at Thidora will participate in and directly benefit from this project.
The project will be based in Colombo and directly service the participants from the Western Province and indirectly facilitate the promotion of the concept of music as a therapeutic tool throughout the country.
Several professional musicians will also benefit from this project since they will learn the concept and probably attempt to promote the concept in Sri Lanka. |
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| One day seminar on Puppetry |
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The 2nd one day seminar on puppetry will be held on 4th April 2009 at the Mahachethiya Piriwena hall-Kandegoda, Ambalangoda. The entry to the seminar will be free for traditional puppeteers as well as amateurs who like to learn puppetry.
Those who wish to participate, please call 0718113515 to reserve seats. The seminar will be conducted in Sinhala. |
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| "Thisara Geethaya" Directed by Ramani Damayanthi |
In aid of the Thidora Theatre
to uplift the Communication skills of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Multiple Disabilities.
We cordially invite you to experience, a moving, musical and integrated theatre craft
"Tisara Geethaya" at the Jankala Kendra Auditorium- Palawatta. [Next to the Parliament Complex] at 6.15 p.m. on Thursday 12th March, 2009
Under the distinguished patronage of
Honorable Lionel Premasiri, Deputy Minister of Social Service and Social Welfare.
If will be a totally different and challenging experience when disabled are engaged in performing art.
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Rohana Deva Perera appointed to the Arts Council of Sri Lanka.
Veteran Drama Therapist and Radio Journalist Rohana Deva Perera has been appointed as the member of the executive committee of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka for 3 years by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage of the Government of Sri Lanka- Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.
Rohana Deva is the ex-manager of the National Institute of Theatre Arts [SITA] and former member of the Children’s Theatre Panel and the Puppetry Panel of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka. He has dedicated his services to develop the Sri Lankan puppeteers as the Chairman of the Panel on Puppetry since 1996 to 2001. |
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He has conducted several theatre workshops all over the island as well as in London, Brisbane, Padua, New Delhi, Oslo, Israel and Lahore.
Presently he is shearing his knowledge to enable the disabled as the Chairman of the Thidora-Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy, and works at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (S.L.B.C.) as a freelance journalist.
He was appointed as the Justice of Peace for the whole Island in 2000 and honored with the presidential award, the Kalasuri, by the Government of Sri Lanka in 2005.
The award, the Kalasuri, recognised not only Rohana’s theatrical work over the last 30 years but also his pioneering efforts to use dance and drama as a therapeutic means to work with differently-abled youth.
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Thidora Opens doors for puppeteers! Enthralling news for neglected artistes.
THIDORA- Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy has launched a project to help Sri Lankan puppeteers with the sponsorship of CEPA. Through this project they are willing to organize a one-day seminar and a five-day workshop for traditional puppeteers as well as amateurs who like to learn puppetry.
While providing the necessary input to develop their skills Thidora is going to set up a website on Sri Lankan puppeteers. Anyone interested in joining this project can have more details at the following address – Rohana Deva, Chairman, Thidora, No. 1136/B5, Pannipitiya Rd, Thalawathugoda, Sri Lanka.
The one-day seminar will be held on Sunday 25th January 2009, at our Thalawathugoda Auditorium.
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Bertolt Brecht’s
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
An integrated theatre piece created with students of the Communication and Theatre Arts Workshop of THIDORA-Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy which conducts theatre workshops for the Disabled and Disadvantaged youth –Free of charge, on every day except Monday and Tuesday at THIDORA Auditorium, 1136/B5, Pannipitiya Road, Thalawathugoda, Sri Lanka.
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| All proceeds will go to the THIDORA to uplift the communication skills of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and multiple disabilities. |
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Please contact on 0094(0)718113515 for more details of organizing regional performances. |
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- Weekly Workshops
THIDORA conducts on an on-going basis weekly workshops
for Disabled and Disadvantaged on the following schedules
Wednesday : Biblio and Art Therapy
Thursday : Music and Movement
Therapy
Friday : Drama
and Play Therapy
Saturday & : Training of Trainers
Programs on
Sunday Communication
& Theatre Arts.
- Designing the teacher’s
Manuel to work with Autistic Children
Formulation of Practical Techniques to the Members
of the Committee of Designing the Teachers’
Manuel to work with Autistic Children in Government
Schools. The Manuel is being designed by the National
Institute of Education of the Ministry of Education.
- Training of Trainers Program
Conducting Training of Trainers Program
for Teachers at the Ceylinco Sussex Autistic School
- Awareness program
We work as Resource Partner of “Eagle
Samana” of Eagle Insurance to conduct awareness program
for the care-takers of children with Special Needs.
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