‘Chekhov Sandhyava’ returns to the stage after 33 years

‘Chekhov Sandhyava’ (evening), first produced and directed in 1991 by Professor Sunanda Mahendra as a communicative theatre study, is set to return to the stage after 33 years as a new production under the direction of Ravindu Mahendra. 

The new staging gains special significance as it coincides with the 166th birth anniversary of renowned Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, which falls on January 29, 2026, and the 88th birth anniversary of the production’s creator, Professor Sunanda Mahendra, on January 28, 2026. 

The production is structured around a dialogue between Chekhov and his theatre manager, using this interaction as a framework to present several of Chekhov’s well-known as well as lesser-known short plays on a single stage. 

The cast includes Prasannajith Abeysuriya, Vasantha Moragoda, Seneviratne Rudrigo, Jayani Sarathchandra, Indika Jayasinghe, and Ajith Sirimanna. Music for the production is composed by Gayan Ganakadhara. 

‘Chekhov Sandhyava’ will be staged for the first time as a new production on January 29, 2026, at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre in Borella.