Ruukada Golek

17 November 2010 06:34 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Sherwani Synon
The saying, language isn’t a barrier is a proven fact in the case of Gayan, Nuwan and Arief. Although they are unable to converse in the same language, together they are able to compose great music. With Gayan on the geta bere, Nuwan on thammettama and Arief on Gamelan (a traditional Indonesian brass orchestra), these three musicians compose a rare form of genre combining the best of Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

This is just a mere introduction for the show ahead. The show is no ordinary play or concert but a puppet show; something that Sri Lanka has not seen for a very long time. Although puppetry is embedded in our traditional culture, a puppet show has not been produced in years indicating that type of performing art is close to its demise.

Sulochana Dissanayake, a graduate of theatre and economics from the Bates College was first fascinated with puppetry when her professor at the university brought a ‘Wayang golek’ to the class. Wayang golek is also known as rod puppet is a traditional form of puppetry in Indonesia.

“When I saw the wayang golek in class, I was fascinated by it. Later on I was given a book to read by my professor on this subject and I read about Dalang Asep Sunandar Sunarya, a puppet maestro in Indonesia,” Sulochana explained.

Using her Watson Fellowship, Sulochana traveled to Indonesia and went in search of this great puppet maestro. She was in luck for she found him. He took her in, provided accommodation and promised to teach the art of wayang golek.

Now she has returned to her birth country with that knowledge and with Dalang Asep Sunandar Sunarya’s ninth son and his nephew; Batara Sena Sunandar Sunarya and Arief Nugraha Rawanda (Arief Dukun) to expose Sri Lanka to this form of puppetry.

“Ruukada golek will tell the story of Mahadenamutta using traditional Indonesian rod puppets. The story is about Mahadenamutta’s reaction to the modern world and how he conceives it. We will also include some traditional Indonesia puppet characters to infuse the two cultures to the storyline,” Sulochana said.

Explaining the story line, she said that the story is her idea but the script was drafted by Wimalanath Weerarathne, a journalist by profession.She went on to explain that they have plans to show Ruukada golek out of Colombo saying that 75% of Sri Lankans belong to the rural community and that they too should be given the opportunity to watch such an interesting international collaboration.

Silochana will be assisted by Batara and famous voice artist Upul de Alwis on handling the puppets, while Nuwan Liyanage and Gayan Mano Kumara of Naadro with Arief will compose music for the show.

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Ruukada Golek

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