Workshop on Script Development and Dramatic Direction with Original Music Scores for BFA (Hons) Students at SVIAS, EUSL

 

Camouflaged among the next generation of theatre practitioners.

The Career Guidance Unit of the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, graciously invited me to conduct a specialised workshop for the final-year students of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) Degree Programme in Drama and Theatre on 31st October 2025. The focus of this workshop was script development and dramatic direction with an emphasis on the integration of original music scores.

I utilised this valuable opportunity to introduce these aspiring dramatists to the nuanced art of theme music composition for theatre. The sessions explored both theoretical and practical approaches to employing thematic music within dramatic scripts, aligning musical motifs with varying emotional textures, character arcs, and situational dynamics within a performance. Drawing upon nearly two decades of professional experience in composing thematic and original scores for stage productions, I was able to demonstrate a range of compositional techniques and directorial applications relevant to contemporary theatre practice.

The outcome of the workshop was deeply gratifying. It was evident that the participants had not only absorbed the conceptual and technical aspects of the sessions but had also begun to experiment creatively, either by composing their own thematic material or by developing an informed understanding of how to collaborate effectively with musicians in future productions.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Florence Bharathy Kennedy, Director of the Institute, and Mr. Mohanathasan Kanthasamy, Senior Lecturer in Drama & Theatre Studies and my respected teacher, for their foresight in recognising the importance of this theme and for their dedicated efforts in organising this workshop for the benefit of the students.