We wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pirith Chanting to bless Thidora

Two more awards at the world disabled day event

Thilina Siriwardane and Sachini Ruwanthika received 1st prize at the national festival on the World Disabled Day 2010, by staging a hybrid dancing with segments from low-country dancing under the supervision of the acclaimed choreographers Ramani Damayanthi and Karunadasa Olaboduwa.

The event was organised by the Saviya Development Foundation and the Ministry of Social Services of Sri Lanka.

These achievements illustrate the extent of the dedication made by Thidora Theatre which was introduced the first ever integrated theatre troupe in Sri Lanka and helped in understanding the psychology of these children and patiently opening doors for their creative output.

TOT Programme on Music Therapy

Thidora theatre bags 4 awards at ESCO 2010

Thidora theatre won 4 main awards at the Very Special Peace Art Festival-ESCO 2010 held on October 30 & 31 at Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. The event was organised by ESCO Rehab Sri Lanka with the participation of more than 700 disabled youth from all over the country including Jaffna, Manner, Batticaloa and Tangalle.

The audience was enthralled by Thidora theatre performers who received fallowing awards

• The Best Solo Dancer - under 18 MR award
• The Best Solo Dancer- over 18 MR award
• The Best Solo Dancer – over 18 deaf award
• The Best Drama award with 9 certificates.

Street drama to canvas women candidates on election

Thidora theatre was involved in developing a street theatre troupe at Women's Resource Center [WRC], Kurunegala on October 08, 09 & 10. The troupe will perform all over the country to uplift general public confidence to vote for women candidates at the forthcoming local government elections in Sri Lanka. WRC will organize performances around the country without political party differences and will back all women candidates to increase women's contribution to politics.

Thidora to implement a traditional music troupe

Thidora signed a MOU of Rs. 500000.00 with CEPA to develop a traditional Kaffir music troupe in Sri Lanka. Mr. Jayampathi Algama – Director of Thidora and Ms. Priyanthi Fernando – Executive Director of CEPA signed the MOU. Mr. Rohana Deva Chairman of THIDORA theatre, was also present.

Thidora dancers inspired the audience at the Symposium on Confronting Challenges of Childhood Disability

The open address under the theme "Coming to terms with the reality of life through positive thinking……

The open address under the theme "Coming to terms with the reality of life through positive thinking, is the easy access to experience serenity of our mind" was conducted by veteran public preacher Mr. Sarath Wimalasiri, Assistant Manager of Bank of Ceylon [Head office] at "Thidora Theatre", Institute of Thalawathugoda by 10.00 a.m. on 25th August 2010.

Lecture demonstration on "Effective Communication" on increasing women's representation in politics…

Our chairman Mr. Rohana Deva conducted a 4 hour lecture demonstration on "Effective Communication" on 19th August, 2010 from 12.00 noon - 1pm and 2pm 5pm at the Jana Kala Kendra, Battaramulla. 52 Women who are willing to contest for the upcoming local government elections have been identified from 5 districts benefited from this training. Aims of this project were to familiarize them with public speaking, voice projections, how to present themselves in the media and how to campaign themselves for the election.

The workshop was organised by the Women and Media Centre [WMC] which is currently working on increasing women's representation in politics aiming at the upcoming Local government elections.

T.O.T program on puppetry at the Ladies College, Colombo 07….

Annual picnic of the Thidora Parent's Society

Picnicking in the ancient temples became a popular activity amongst the members of the Thidora Parent's Society. All of them were providing a share of the entertainment and of the refreshments when they had their annual picnic on July 16, to Dabulla.

Sinhalese & Tamil New Year Festival

Sinhala & Tamil New Year Festival was held at Thalawatugoda Junction. The event was organised by the Parents Soceity of Thidora.

Our Creative Director was honored by the National Youth Services Council

Our Creative Director was honored by the National Youth Services Council on March 27, 2010 for her services rendered for the development of the youth theatre in Sri Lanka.

She receives the award from the than Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Rathnasiri Wickremanayake on the World Drama Day 2010 at the Youth Services Auditorium at Maharagama

A needlework session to develop fine motor skills

We have started a needlework session to develop fine motor skills of our students. The class is being conducted on every Wednesday by Mrs. Rupa De Silva and Mrs. Neela Kumarasinghe. Fine motor skills are skills that involve a refined use of the small muscles controlling the hand, fingers, and thumb. The development of these skills allows one to be able to complete tasks such as writing, drawing, and buttoning. The abilities which involve the use of hands develop over time, starting with primitive gestures such as grabbing at objects to more precise activities that involve precise eye–hand coordination.

Thidora Theatre expanded its services to the Southern Province

We have expanded our work of psychosocial support to persons living with disability in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Southern Youth Development Foundation [SYDF] in Hambantota affiliated to Thidora Theatre organised a grand public performance at the center of 'OUR KIDS' at Hambantota on 27 July, 2009. The participants of our workshops -36 from Colombo and 32 from Hambantota performed on the same stage to display the talents of the disabled while raising awareness of their rights.

The 2nd performance was staged at the Town Council Hall –Hambantota on 1st February 2010 and really flesh out the July performance.

Our Creative Director wins TOYP 2009 Award

Thidora Theatres' 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 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.

Launched of a website to support puppeteers in Sri Lanka

Thidora-Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy launched a website – www.puppetrylk.com under the patronage of honorable Mahinda Yapa Abewardane -than 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.

[In the picture from left; Rohana Deva- Chairman of Thidora theatre, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana- than Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mr. Vimal Rubasinghe- Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mr. Pandula Edagama- than Chairman of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka, Prof; Lionel Bentarage and Dr. Leel Gunasekara, at the occasion.]

Heeling through Beauty Therapy

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.

“Thei Yath Tha” went on board successfully

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...