KATAWAHA
Directed by
Ruwanthie De Chickera
Devised & Performed by
The Stages Youth Ensemble
Katawaha is inspired by the real-life experiences of two of our SYE members — one a survivor of throat cancer, the other living with a pronounced stutter.
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A closely-knit family navigating the challenges of one child’s debilitating stutter, is pushed into crisis when the other is diagnosed with throat cancer.
Katawaha brings to the stage issues rarely discussed openly in Sri Lanka — patient rights in the public health system, social stigma around physical challenges, the lack of support for families in medical crisis, the complex psychological challenges teenagers face today.
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Runtime
3 hours 30 minutesLanguage
English and Sinhala
Katawaha was first staged as a preview at St. Paul’s Church, Milagiriya in August 2025. -
Director
Ruwanthie De ChickeraProducer
Samuel SundaralingamStage Manager
Sandun LakshanAssistant Director/Acting Coach
Nipuni SharadaMovement Coach
Pathum DharmarathnaShow Runner
Visura PadeniyaWriters
Ruwanthie De Chickera, Samuel Sundaralingam, Visura Padeniya, Banuja NethusaraTranslators
Sasindu Randi, Hirupa Kithmina, Kavishka Lochana, Anuja Sanelka Muthumala, Mashika Methmini, Sadeepa Wickramage
with Wageesha Salgado, Visura Padeniya, Vishwa WijesooriyaTranslation Consultant
Nipuni SharadaCast (Sinhala)
Hirupa Kithmina
Anjaani Perera
Shanya Perera
Kavishka Lochana
Sasindu Randi
Murthaaz Barry
Okitha Karunadhara
Sadeepa Wickramage
Anuja Sanelka Muthumala
Dinuli Mendis
Mashika Methmini
Neesha Hanarasinghe
Sayitha Karunakaran
Pasan RanaweeraCast (English)
Avlok Wignaraja
Anouk Abeywickrema
Kithmi Ranatunga
Samuel Sundaralingam
Akhil Skanthakumar
Murthaaz Barry
Okitha Karunadhara
Randil De Zoysa
Anuja Sanelka Muthumala
Dinuli Mendis
Mashika Methmini
Neesha Hanarasinghe
Sadeepa Wickramage
Sayitha Karunakaran
Pasan RanaweeraComposer/Consultant
Rehan AmaratungaLights Designer
Ryan HolsingerSounds Designers/Operators
Visura Padeniya, Kenolee Ranatunga, Shyan Muthumudalige, Saniru PereraCampaign Manager
Visura PadeniyaGraphic Designer
Banuja NethusaraVideo Editor
Dinuk BenjaminSet Designer
Sasindu RandiAssistant Producer
Rachel CramerFOH
Ganan Kugan, Akein Bandara, Inura Dewasinghe, Randil De Zoysa, Kalindu KassapaAssistant Stage Manager
Vishwa WijesooriyaRehearsal Manager
Anouk AbeywickremaActing Support
Hajarah FaleelLights Operators
Ryan Holsinger, Isaac SundaralingamBackstage
Rachel Cramer, Nikki Abeywickrema, Iqraaz Othman, Nilavini John, Sayitha Karunakaran, Tavish Ruwane Ramanayake, Anuk Wijeratne, Pooma Luxme Asokan, Nisshanka Rajapaksha
Cast