Colombo audiences are set to witness the return of a landmark international theatre production this September, as Stages Theatre Group presents DCS: Rwanda–Sri Lanka Collaboration on 19 and 20 September at 7pm at the BMICH Kamatha New Theatre.
Following the acclaim of DCS: 7 Decades of Sri Lanka, which has captivated audiences across the island, this bold new staging brings together artists from two continents to explore the parallel histories of Rwanda and Sri Lanka through powerful movement and storytelling. Directed by award-winning Sri Lankan playwright Ruwanthie De Chickera, the production is a collaboration between Stages Theatre Group, Sri Lanka and Mashirika, Rwanda. It first premiered at the inaugural Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Kigali in 2015. Drawing on extensive interviews with senior citizens born in the 1930s, individuals who lived through colonisation and its aftermath, the work transforms personal memories into a kaleidoscopic theatrical experience blending history, intimacy and creativity.
The play unfolds across three interwoven narratives:
A parallel timeline tracing Rwanda’s and Sri Lanka’s shared experiences from 1930 to 1990, navigating colonisation, independence, exile, insurrections and genocide.
A tender exploration of wedding traditions in both cultures, revealing how older generations approached love, marriage and family with wit and poignancy.
A searing portrayal of the collapse of societies under anarchy and violence, reflecting on Rwanda’s genocide and Sri Lanka’s pogroms and civil war.
Almost a decade since its first staging, the international cast reunites in Colombo with renewed depth and urgency. The production has previously travelled across Rwanda, Sri Lanka, India and Kashmir, and after its Colombo run, will head to New York University, Abu Dhabi (24–27 September) for a week-long residency featuring five performances, including two public shows.
Tickets for the Colombo performances on 19 and 20 September can be reserved by calling: +94 77 627 7648 or emailing info@stages.lk. Online booking is also available. This is a rare opportunity to experience a theatrical work that brings history and memory to life through the artistry of a dynamic international ensemble.
