Colombo Calling - a play from Sri Lanka

by Cristina A. Bejan

Having recently received a PhD from Cambridge, Karthi returns to Colombo for the first time in twenty-two years. He comes to settle family affairs as his mother lays on her death-bed in London. His male cousin, Shahan, is a loud, vocal Sri Lankan with a very strong Tamil identity, and Shahan's sister, Thushanti, is Colombo's most famous and desired party girl. Shahan works for an American NGO set up post-...

Having recently received a PhD from Cambridge, Karthi returns to Colombo for the first time in twenty-two years. He comes to settle family affairs as his mother lays on her death-bed in London. His male cousin, Shahan, is a loud, vocal Sri Lankan with a very strong Tamil identity, and Shahan's sister, Thushanti, is Colombo's most famous and desired party girl. Shahan works for an American NGO set up post- Tsunami through which met his New Zealander girlfriend, Molly. Karthi's aunt, Varthini, has difficulty accepting Karthi's family's rejection of their homeland, her own children's erratic behavior and the extreme changes happening in Sri Lanka due to never-ending civil war, natural disaster and international humanitarian intervention. Facing discrimination and racism even as a visitor, Karthi learns what it means to be Tamil in 2006 Sri Lanka. Setting: Colombo and Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

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Colombo Calling - a play from Sri Lanka

Character Information

NOTE: It is of crucial importance for all actors to use the correct accent appropriate to their character. Extra characters in scenes (e.g. Colombo Airport, Zanziba) can be portrayed by the actors not in the current scene. Random Dancing Guy at Zanziba, Armed Security Guard in Batticaloa and Passport Control Agent can all be played by the same actor.
  • Lasantha
    Shahan’s best friend, lawyer, Sri Lankan, Sinhalese
    27
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Claudia
    Lasantha’s German girlfriend
    late 20s/early 30s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Doctor Igor
    Doctor for Medical Relief International in Batticaloa
    40s/50s
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Prateek
    Doctor Igor’s assistant, Sri Lankan, Sinhalese
    20s/30s/40s
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Random Dancing Guy in Zanziba
    male, 20s, Sinhalese
    20s
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Armed security guard in Batticaloa
    Sinhalese
    20s/30s/40s
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Karthigesu (Karthi) Tissainayagam
    British, Cambridge PhD, Tamil
    25
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Passport control agent at the airport
    Sinhalese
    20s/30s/40s/50s
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Shahan Balakrishnan:
    cousin of Karthi, Sri Lankan, Tamil
    27
    South Asian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Thushanti Balakrishnan
    sister of Shahan, cousin of Karthi, Sri Lankan, Tamil
    23
    South Asian
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Varthini Balakrishnan
    mother of Shahan and Thushanti, aunt of Karthi, Sri Lankan, Tamil
    50s/60s
    South Asian
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Molly Brown
    New Zealander, girlfriend of Shahan
    25
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Reading, Imurj - a collaborative art and music space (featuring Seema Kukreja, Raleigh, NC), 2018
  • Reading, Kennedy Center - Page to Stage Festival (Washington DC), 2016
  • Reading, Teatrul Foarte Mic & Museo Cafe (featuring Maia Morgenstern, Bucharest, Romania), 2008