For performers, theatre is not just about the spectacle, it is about the connection, the unspoken dialogue between actor and audience.
The timing of this concert is more than mere coincidence; it is a deliberate tribute.
By Thaliba Cader
There are moments in life when art transcends its stage, reaching out beyond the footlights to touch lives in ways more profound than applause can measure. On the evening of March 18th, The Workshop Players will gather once again at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, not merely as performers but as storytellers in service of a cause. Encore for a Cause, a charity concert in aid of the Indira Cancer Trust’s Suwa Arana Palliative Paediatric Care Centre, is an act of love; a testament to the power of theatre to heal, to comfort, and to unite. For Dr. Sean Amarasekera, a longtime Workshop Player and President of the group, the call to the stage is something akin to breathing. “I think all of us have grown up in theatre,” he reflects. “It’s as essential as earning a daily living. The work is fulfilling, and in many ways, it’s as practical as a nine-to-five job, but life is rare without art. And when it’s for a good cause, it becomes doubly rewarding.”
For Dr. Sean Amarasekera, a longtime Workshop Player and President of the group, the call to the stage is something akin to breathing. “I think all of us have grown up in theatre,” he reflects. “It’s as essential as earning a daily living. The work is fulfilling, and in many ways, it’s as practical as a nine-to-five job, but life is rare without art. And when it’s for a good cause, it becomes doubly rewarding.”
The timing of this concert is more than mere coincidence; it is a deliberate tribute. Nestled between The Workshop Players’ 33rd anniversary on March 7th and World Theatre Day on March 27th, Encore for a Cause stands as a bridge between the legacy of an ensemble that has defined Sri Lankan theatre and the universal celebration of an art form that has always carried the weight of human stories.
For Jerome L. de Silva, the visionary behind The Workshop Players, this performance is deeply personal. “I was undergoing treatment for cancer when I sat in the waiting room and saw children, one-and-a-half-year-olds, emaciated, thin as sticks, being taken in for radiation,” he recalls. “The terrified looks on their faces, their parents’ silent prayers; it was unbearable. People were praying for me. I had the blessing of love and support. But these families, they come from so far away, and they don’t have access to the same care.” That was the moment Jerome knew this had to happen, that the stage he had long called home had to open its arms to these children, to their families, to their battles that often went unseen.
For performers, theatre is not just about the spectacle, it is about the connection, the unspoken dialogue between actor and audience. “Before the audience enters, I only have 75% of the puzzle,” Sean Amarasekera muses. “It’s when they sit down, when they react, that we find the missing 25%. We complete the story together.” It is this synergy that makes every performance unique, that makes each stumble and improvisation part of something organic, something alive. “Oh gosh, there are too many unforgettable moments behind the scenes,” Sean laughs. “It’s the mishaps, the ones the audience never even notice. You think on your feet, you adapt, and that’s what makes you fresh. Every audience is different; they bring a new energy, and we cater to them.” Seneli Premaratna,
representing the Indira Cancer Trust, speaks of the impact of moments like these, where theatre and humanity intersect. “I wish more people understood that the children and families we support just need kindness and empathy, just for someone to be there for them, to truly see them.”
For her, this event is deeply personal. “My mother went through cancer. She had chemotherapy, and she survived. Theatre has always been something close to my heart, and being able to merge something I love with something that matters so much; it’s special.”
The evening promises a breathtaking lineup, featuring some of Sri Lanka’s most esteemed theatre veterans. Audiences will witness the brilliance of Bhanu Prabhasha, Daniella Perera, Dinushka Jayawickreme, Dushyanth Weeraman, Kavitha Gunasekera, Mario De Soyza, Melanie Bibile, Rehan Almeida, Sean Amarasekera, and Stephanie Siriwardhane, alongside renowned guest artists. Every note sung, every line spoken, every movement on that stage is dedicated to a cause far greater than the sum of its parts.
For Jerome de Silva, the most rewarding part of this journey has been witnessing the community rally together. “The idea came a month ago, and everyone came together for this one cause. All these well-known talents, all these people,
it’s wonderful.”
Tickets are available at the Lionel Wendt Box Office, priced at Rs. 5,000,
Rs. 4,000, and Rs. 3,000 for reserved seating, with balcony seats at Rs. 1,000.
So, grab your ticket. The curtain rises on March 18th at 7:30 PM, but its impact will last far beyond the final bow.
