What If the Rain Fails?

July 11, 2008                                                                          
For Immediate Release 

ASYLUM THEATRE GROUP PRESENTS WHAT IF THE RAIN FAILS

IN COMMEMORATION OF SRI LANKA’S ‘BLACK JULY’

SATURDAY, JULY 26 AT THE YOUNG CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Twenty five years ago, this month, a state–sponsored pogrom against Tamils in Sri Lanka, widely known as “Black July ‘83”, resulted in the killings of 3000 Tamils and large scale destruction of their properties. Thousands fled as refugees. A significant number of Tamils sought refuge in Canada. Tamils all over the world commemorate Black July, this month. As part of a month-long commemoration in Canada organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress, Asylum Theatre Group of Toronto presents the Toronto premiere of, WHAT IF THE RAIN FAILS on Saturday, July 26 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.

Written by Toronto Tamil poet Cheran, the play is set against the backdrop of a refugee hearing in Canada. The play weaves personal testimonies, poetry and dance in narrating a heart-wrenching story of loss and survival. The central character is performed by K. Rasarathnam, an actual survivor of Black July. “As a survivor, it's a humbling experience to be able to speak on behalf of the thousands who's voices were permanently silenced on July 83” said Mr. Rasarathnam.

Saturday, July 26 at 1:00pm, 4:00pm, and 6:00pm

Venue: Tank House Theatre in the Young Centre for the Performing Arts

Distillery Historic District

Tickets are $5.00 and available at the Young Centre Box Office

 www.youngcentre.ca -  416 866 8666 

or Canadian Tamil Congress office - 416 240 0078

About Ayslum Theatre Group

Director: Dushy Gnanapragasam

Dushy Gnanapragasam received his initiation into live theatre in Sri Lanka. He has been an actor with various Tamil Canadian community theatre groups for over 10 years. For the last five years he has been a director at Manaveli Performing Arts Group's Annual Festival of Theatre and Dance. His directorial ventures include Harold Pinter's New World Order, Mario Fratti's The Satraps, Ivan Turgenev's Broke, and Murray Schisgal's The Pushcart Peddlers.

Playwright: Cheran

Cheran has published seven anthologies of poetry in Tamil. His plays have been performed in Sri Lanka, Canada, the UK and France. His poems have been translated into English, German, Swedish, Sinhala, Kannnada and Malayalam. He has performed poetry at various international writers’ festivals. He was the recipient of a writing award from the Banff Centre for Arts, Alberta. This is his first play in English. He is a professor at the University of Windsor, Ontario.

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Media Contact:

Dushy Gnanapragasam, (416) 995-2984

For information about the Black July commemoration, visit www.blackjuly83.com