AWA I KAAWA I GIYA: An Anthology on Migration is a three-part, mixed media, research based devised collection of short performance pieces that piece together narratives of different kinds/waves of migration in and out of the country under different historical, socio-political and economic circumstances in Sri Lanka.

Runtime
1 hour 15 minutes

Language
Sinhala & English

AWA I KAAWA I GIYA: An Anthology on Migration was first staged at the Panibaratha Theatre, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka in December 2022.

This play was directed by Piumi Wijesundara, produced by Maleen Jayasuriya and was devised and written with the Stages Ensemble.

The play has considered a body of research and evolved into an anthology of performance pieces through stories that were collected in a two-month devising process. This was a performance created employing the biomechanics style of acting, following an intensive biomechanics ensemble actor training that the Stages Ensemble underwent.

The first staging of the play was supported by the Sunethra Bandaranaike Foundation and the kind contributions of friends and family via GoFundme.

The play was devised, rehearsed, and produced within a timespan of two-months.

Once the 9 stories or performance pieces of the play were identified, the artists developed the characters of these stories separately and then wove the stories together using choreography, videos, and a central weave of three-parts: the comings (AWA), the consumption and corruption of political regimes (KAAWA), and the goings (GIYA).

Each of the three parts have three performance pieces that involve: physical theatre, videos and mixed media ensemble performances for storytelling accompanied by live music.

Directed by Piumi Wijesundara
Devised with the Stages Ensemble

CAST

2022 Ensemble

Sampath Neelaka Bandara
Bhanu Ekanayake
Hidaayath Hazeer
Lakranga Hewawitharana
Rishitha Kasun
Vimukthi Kiriella
Samurdhika Kulasinghe
Tracy Jayasinghe
Dilushi Jayatilake
Oshadha Kumarikkanda
Shashi Don Pawulu
Dewduni Perera
Akalanka Prabhashwara
Anjana Premawardane
Duminda Sandaruwan
Sanjula Silva
Kasun Tharaka
Chathuranga Tilakaratne
Thiwanka Don Ranasinghe
Sudeera Rathnamalala
Yasiru Weerasinghe
Shalini Wanninayake

Full List of Credits

Phenomenal production and great acting combined to present a very relevant theme. Brave. Beautifully executed.
— Angelica C.

I enjoyed it! […] The ending really tied everything together on a nice note that still expressed the absurdity of the situation. Live music is superb also and the editing on the video parts was done really well.
— Sonal M.

Loved it!
— Yohan F.