Ernest MacIntyre
Encyclopedia
Ernest Thalayasingam MacIntyre, (a.k.a. Macintyre, Ernest Thalayasingam), (26 Sep 1934 - ) is a Sri Lanka
n playwright
of the English language
, who has been active in the Sri Lankan English theatre for the last 50 years.
He was a member of the performing group 'Stage and Set', which presented established international plays
as well as those written by him.
MacIntyre is known for his absurd style, although Rasanayagam's Last Riot is written in a realistic mode. His plays were usually performed at the Lionel Wendt theatre in Colombo
. During this time there was cross-pollination
between the English and Sinhala theatres, primarily due to MacIntyre.
MacIntyre served in the Sri Lankan Air Force
from 1961 to 1967, acted as the Director of the drama school at Aquinas University College in 1968 and 1969. From 1969 to 1973, he worked as UNESCO
project officer.
In 2005, MacIntyre revived E.F.C. Ludowyk's He Comes from Jaffna in a production in Sydney, Australia, updating the script to reflect changes in social values. His version of this play, together with the scripts of Rasanayagam's Last Riot and He Still Comes From Jaffna, was published in the anthology Jaffna and Colombo.
in 1973 brought a lull in creativity
in the English theatre in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
of the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, who has been active in the Sri Lankan English theatre for the last 50 years.
Career
MacIntyre attended Peradeniya University where he was a Dramsoc member. During the 1960s, MacIntyre was hailed as the most prolific and successful of Sri Lankan playwrights in English.He was a member of the performing group 'Stage and Set', which presented established international plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
as well as those written by him.
MacIntyre is known for his absurd style, although Rasanayagam's Last Riot is written in a realistic mode. His plays were usually performed at the Lionel Wendt theatre in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. During this time there was cross-pollination
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
between the English and Sinhala theatres, primarily due to MacIntyre.
MacIntyre served in the Sri Lankan Air Force
Sri Lankan Air Force
The Sri Lanka Air Force is the air arm and the youngest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. It was founded in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force with the assistance of the Royal Air Force . The SLAF played a major role throughout the Sri Lankan Civil War...
from 1961 to 1967, acted as the Director of the drama school at Aquinas University College in 1968 and 1969. From 1969 to 1973, he worked as UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
project officer.
In 2005, MacIntyre revived E.F.C. Ludowyk's He Comes from Jaffna in a production in Sydney, Australia, updating the script to reflect changes in social values. His version of this play, together with the scripts of Rasanayagam's Last Riot and He Still Comes From Jaffna, was published in the anthology Jaffna and Colombo.
Emigration
MacIntyre's emigrationEmigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
in 1973 brought a lull in creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
in the English theatre in Sri Lanka.
Works
- 1967: The Full Circle of Caucasian Chalk
- ?: The President of the Old Boys' Club
- ?: He Still Comes From Jaffna
- 1981: Let's Give Them Curry, An Australian-Asian Comedy in 3 Acts
- 1971: The Education of Miss Asia
- 1990: Rasanayagam's Last Riot
- ? The Loneliness of the Short-Distance Runner