Colombo vies to become Asia’s Entertainment hub

• Twelve Sri Lankan children to gain opportunity to appear in a large commercial musical
• International cast to perform ‘The Sound of Music’ for the first time in South Asia from Feb 14-18

In a first of a series of events that will make Colombo a hub for entertainment in the region, Cinnamon Life last week announced that it will present, for the first time in South Asia, Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian’s Really Useful Group production of The Sound of Music. The move follows a partnership inked between Cinnamon Life and David Ian Productions Ltd, Company Onstage Ltd and the Broadway Asia Company LLC on the 9th of January 2018.

“Colombo’s changing landscape will see the emergence of a consumer profile seeking interesting things to do in the city. Entertainment will undoubtedly be a driving factor apart from dining and shopping. This initiative is the first step in an ongoing endeavour to make Colombo a city that offers high quality entertainment on a regular basis and create a platform to attract an international audience,” Deputy Chairman of the John Keells Group, Krishan Balendra said.

He noted that this extraordinary theatrical performance, set to take place from February 14- 18 at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Raajapaksa Theatre, will dazzle audiences in Sri Lanka, enabling them to experience a world-class musical that has made its mark on some of the world’s most revered stages including those on the West End and Broadway.

“It is pleasing to note that this event is being announced at a time when Sri Lanka is seeing a record number of tourists. We commend the initiative taken by Cinnamon Life as Sri Lanka is in need of events of this nature to entertain the growing tourists,” said Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga assuring the fullest support from the government and Sri Lanka Tourism.

Meanwhile, organizers of the event announced that twelve children from Sri Lanka will also have the opportunity to appear in a large commercial musical, and perform alongside a fully professional theatre company adding flavour to the play’s award-winning international cast that has brought The Sound of Music critical acclaim.

“As a country, we are well positioned country to be the entertainment hub for South Asia and the Sri Lanka tourism is also working hard to bring in high spenders and events such as this helps to move up such positions,” Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sutheash Balasubramaniam said.

Looking to the future, he pointed out that in the short term, Sri Lanka plans to host an array of firsts in South Asia such as the Asian Choir Games, which is a qualifier to the World Choir Games in October,  Ironman 70.3, a triathlon competition to be held for the first time in South Asia, surf and water sports.

The 2018 Ironman race begins with a 1.9 km swim at Galle Face Green Park. The flat, fast three-loop bike course travel’s through the city center past the Old Parliament Building and Port of Colombo. The 21.1 km run follows the coastline and returns to Galle Face Green Park.

“What we are trying to do is make Colombo into a global city where the city has a vibrant hub that companies like Sri Lankan Airlines needs to grow,” SriLankan Airlines CEO Capt. Suren Ratwatte told a panel discussion.

Meanwhile, General Manager of David Ian Productions Ltd, Lisa Fleming said both tourism and theater has long since been intertwined and interlinked as proven by the Broadway in London where tourists constitute a high number of audiences.

“These events will help place Sri Lanka on the map in the same way that Singapore and other Asian cities successfully managed. This production of Sound of Music has been touring internationally since 2014 and over the past six months it has played in select countries in East Asia such as Philippines, China and Singapore,” Fleming pointed out.