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
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Hirupa
Hirupa Kithmina
Ruvin (Sinhala) -
Avi
Avlock Wignaraja
Ruvin (English) -
Anjaani
Anjaani Perera
Vindya (Sinhala) -
Anouk
Anouk Abeywickrema
Vindya (English) -
Lochi
Kavishka Lochana
Ashok (Sinhala) -
Sam
Samuel Sundaralingam
Ashok (English) -
Shanya
Shanya Perera
Renu (Sinhala) -
Kithmi
Kithmi Ranatunga
Renu (English) -
Sasi
Sasindu Randeniya
Sebastian (Sinhala) -
Akhil
Akhil Skanthakumar
Sebastian (English) -
Murty
Murthaaz Abdul Barry
Dr. Xavier (English & Sinhala) -
Pasan
Pasan Ranaweera
The Stranger (English & Sinhala) -
Mashi
Mashika Methmini
Pawani, Thilini (English & Sinhala) -
Dinuli
Dinuli Mendis
Shinu, Nurse (English & Sinhala) -
Neesha
Neesha Hanarasinghe
Nihara (English & Sinhala) -
Sadeepa
Sadeepa Wickramage
Devin (Sinhala), The Waiter (English & Sinhala) -
Randil
Randil De Zoysa
Devin (English) -
Anuja
Anuja Sanelka Muthumala
Raashid (English & Sinhala) -
Sayitha
Karunakaran Sayitha
Nurse (English & Sinhala)
Crew
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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