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.

  • 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.

  • Runtime
    3 hours 30 minutes

    Language
    English and Sinhala

    Katawaha was first staged as a preview at St. Paul’s Church, Milagiriya in August 2025.

  • Director
    Ruwanthie De Chickera

    Producer
    Samuel Sundaralingam

    Stage Manager
    Sandun Lakshan

    Assistant Director/Acting Coach
    Nipuni Sharada

    Movement Coach
    Pathum Dharmarathna

    Show Runner
    Visura Padeniya

    Writers
    Ruwanthie De Chickera, Samuel Sundaralingam, Visura Padeniya, Banuja Nethusara

    Translators
    Sasindu Randi, Hirupa Kithmina, Kavishka Lochana, Anuja Sanelka Muthumala, Mashika Methmini, Sadeepa Wickramage
    with Wageesha Salgado, Visura Padeniya, Vishwa Wijesooriya

    Translation Consultant
    Nipuni Sharada

    Cast (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 Ranaweera

    Cast (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 Ranaweera

    Composer/Consultant
    Rehan Amaratunga

    Lights Designer
    Ryan Holsinger

    Sounds Designers/Operators
    Visura Padeniya, Kenolee Ranatunga, Shyan Muthumudalige, Saniru Perera

    Campaign Manager
    Visura Padeniya

    Graphic Designer
    Banuja Nethusara

    Video Editor
    Dinuk Benjamin

    Set Designer
    Sasindu Randi

    Assistant Producer
    Rachel Cramer

    FOH
    Ganan Kugan, Akein Bandara, Inura Dewasinghe, Randil De Zoysa, Kalindu Kassapa

    Assistant Stage Manager
    Vishwa Wijesooriya

    Rehearsal Manager
    Anouk Abeywickrema

    Acting Support
    Hajarah Faleel

    Lights Operators
    Ryan Holsinger, Isaac Sundaralingam

    Backstage
    Rachel Cramer, Nikki Abeywickrema, Iqraaz Othman, Nilavini John, Sayitha Karunakaran, Tavish Ruwane Ramanayake, Anuk Wijeratne, Pooma Luxme Asokan, Nisshanka Rajapaksha

(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka
(c) Prauda Buwaneka

Cast

  • Hirupa

    Hirupa

    Hirupa Kithmina
    Ruvin (Sinhala)

  • Avi

    Avi

    Avlock Wignaraja
    Ruvin (English)

  • Anjaani

    Anjaani

    Anjaani Perera
    Vindya (Sinhala)

  • Anouk

    Anouk

    Anouk Abeywickrema
    Vindya (English)

  • Lochi

    Lochi

    Kavishka Lochana
    Ashok (Sinhala)

  • Sam

    Sam

    Samuel Sundaralingam
    Ashok (English)

  • Shanya

    Shanya

    Shanya Perera
    Renu (Sinhala)

  • Kithmi

    Kithmi

    Kithmi Ranatunga
    Renu (English)

  • Sasi

    Sasi

    Sasindu Randeniya
    Sebastian (Sinhala)

  • Akhil

    Akhil

    Akhil Skanthakumar
    Sebastian (English)

  • Murty

    Murty

    Murthaaz Abdul Barry
    Dr. Xavier (English & Sinhala)

  • Pasan

    Pasan

    Pasan Ranaweera
    The Stranger (English & Sinhala)

  • Mashi

    Mashi

    Mashika Methmini
    Pawani, Thilini (English & Sinhala)

  • Dinuli

    Dinuli

    Dinuli Mendis
    Shinu, Nurse (English & Sinhala)

  • Neesha

    Neesha

    Neesha Hanarasinghe
    Nihara (English & Sinhala)

  • Sadeepa

    Sadeepa

    Sadeepa Wickramage
    Devin (Sinhala), The Waiter (English & Sinhala)

  • Randil

    Randil

    Randil De Zoysa
    Devin (English)

  • Anuja

    Anuja

    Anuja Sanelka Muthumala
    Raashid (English & Sinhala)

  • Sayitha

    Sayitha

    Karunakaran Sayitha
    Nurse (English & Sinhala)

Crew

  • Ruwa

    Ruwanthie de Chickera
    Writer & Director

  • Sam

    Sam Sundaralingam
    Producer & Writer

  • Sandun

    Sandun Lakshan
    Stage Manager

  • Nipuni

    Nipuni Sharada
    Assistant Director / Acting Coach & Translation Consultant

  • Pathum

    Pathum Dharamarathna
    Movement Coach

  • Visura

    Visura Padeniya
    Show Runner / Writer, Translator, Sounds Designer & Campaign Manager

  • Banuja

    Banuja Nethusara
    Writer & Graphic Designer

  • Sasi

    Sasindu Randi
    Translator & Set Designer

  • Hirupa

    Hirupa Kithmina
    Translator

  • Lochana

    Kavishka Lochana
    Translator

  • Anuja

    Anuja Sanelka Muthumala
    Translator

  • Mashi

    Mashika Methmini
    Translator

  • Sadeepa

    Sadeepa Wickramage
    Translator

  • Wageesha

    Wageesha Salgado
    Translator

  • Vishi

    Vishwa Wijesooriya
    Translator & Assistant Stage Manager

  • Rehan

    Rehan Amaratunga
    Composer / Consultant

  • Ryan

    Ryan Holsinger
    Lights Designer

  • Kenolee

    Kenolee Ranatunga
    Sounds Designer / Operator

  • Shyan

    Shyan Muthumudalige
    Sounds Designer / Operator

  • Saniru

    Saniru Perera
    Sounds Designer / Operator

  • Dinuk

    Dinuk Benjamin
    Video Editor

  • Rachel

    Rachel Cramer
    Assistant Producer & Backstage Crew

  • Ganan

    Ganan Kugan
    FOH Team

  • Akein

    Akein Bandara
    FOH Team

  • Inura

    Inura Dewasinghe
    FOH Team

  • Randil

    Randil De Zoysa
    FOH Team

  • Kalindu

    Kalindu Kassapa
    FOH Team

  • Anouk

    Anouk Abeywickrema
    Rehearsal Manager

  • Hajarah

    Hajarah Faleel
    Acting Support

  • Isaac

    Isaac Sundaralingam
    Lights Operator

  • Nikki

    Nikki Abeywickrema
    Backstage Crew

  • Iqraaz

    Iqraaz Othman
    Backstage Crew

  • Nilavini

    Nilavini John
    Backstage Crew

  • Sayitha

    Sayitha Karunakaran
    Backstage Crew

  • Tavish

    Tavish Ruwane Ramanayake
    Backstage Crew

  • Anuk

    Anuk Wijeratne
    Backstage Crew

  • Pooma

    Pooma Luxme Asokan
    Backstage Crew

  • Nisshanka

    Nisshanka Rajapaksha
    Backstage Crew

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