Thought curfew

a collaboration with Empathy & Risk

Created & Directed by
David Cotterrell & Ruwanthie de Chickera


How are entire communities rendered unthinking in a moment?

  • Thought Curfew is a lyrical play which follows the journey of a child fleeing a fast-spreading phenomenon which renders people unthinking instantly.

    As the child escapes the terrifying thought curfew she encounters ‘unthinking’ communities already subject to it.

  • Runtime
    30 minutes

    Language
    Sinhala, English

    Thought Curfew is a mixed media live performance created by David Cotterrell and Ruwanthie de Chickera. The play brought together animators, composers and designers from the United Kingdom and actors from Sri Lanka. It was staged at the 4th Ubumuntu Festival of Humanity held in Kigali, Rwanda.

    The script is based on a short story written by Ruwanthie which was inspired by the idea of a ‘Thought Curfew’, a concept coined initially by Sri Lankan student playwright Tara Nadun.


    Thought Curfew
    was first staged at Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre, Rwanda in July 2018.

    The staging was supported by Empathy and Risk, The Arts and Design Research Centre, Sheffield-Hallam University UK, Rohith Peiris and the Sri Lankan community in Rwanda, & The Ubumuntu Festival of Humanity

  • “Haunting, and thought provoking”

    “Mesmerizing and haunting visuals with sparse and on point writing.”

    -Ubumuntu Festival of Humanity

  • Created & Directed by
    David Cotterell & Ruwanthie de Chickera

    Cast
    Sanjeewa Upendra
    Akalanka Prabashwara
    Piumi Wijesundara
    Pramila Samarakoon
    Duminda Sandaruwan
    Indika Lakmal
    Kanchana Malshani

  • Thought Curfew - Script

Looking back

Production Video

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