Join us for a moderated discussion with theatre directors Chris White and Jerome De Silva
As part of our Shakespeare Lives Programme to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, British Council Arts is bringing out Chris White, Associate Practitioner for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as one of the judges for this years Shakespeare Drama Competition finals.
Chris will also be part of a moderated discussion with Smriti Daniel about Shakespeare and theatre in the UK. He will be joined by The Workshop Players Artistic Director Jerome de Silva, who this year brought free outdoor Shakespeare performances to Sri Lankan audiences for the first time with Shakespeare in the Park. Chris has worked with teachers and theatre practitioners on Shakespeare projects across the UK and in India, China and the U.S. Chris directed Trouble and Wonder at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as part of their Spanish Golden Age Season when he was Assistant Director for the RSC .
As a theatre director, Chris specialises in new writing, Shakespeare and international collaborations. His recent productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing; Scenes from 68 Years, Arcola, London; I Burn, I Pine, I Perish, Belgrade, Coventry; Fewer Emergencies, Teatro Litta, Milan; Hard Places, Prithvi, Mumbai; The Truth, La Virgule, Lille.
Jerome De Silva has been the Artistic Director of The Workshop Players since its inception. An announcer at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation from 1972-1979, he is best known for his theatrical career which spans 37 years which has over 75 productions to his credit including a vast array of musical productions including Les Miserables, The Lion King and Oliver!
As part of his passionate commitment to bring Shakespeare to the masses, this year, Jerome directed the Workshop Players in Sri Lanka’s first ever outdoor performances of Shakespeare, with Shakespeare in the Park, which brought free performances of Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merchant of Venice and Othello to Sri Lankan audiences.