Porakayaka Magul Geyak (පෝරකයේ මඟුල් ගෙයක්)

My first time at Punchi Theatre

I watched Porakayaka Magul Geyak (පෝරකයේ මඟුල් ගෙයක්) at the 7 PM show on October 31, 2026, at Namel Malini Punchi Theatre in Borella.

This was also my first time at the theatre, and honestly, the place itself was one of my favourite parts of the evening.

It’s a cosy, intimate space that feels very different from watching something in a big auditorium. You feel close to the performance, and that private little theatre atmosphere makes it easy to get drawn into what’s happening on stage. It actually made me want to go and watch more stage dramas.

The play

The story revolves around a monk who decides to organise a bhutha mandiraya (a haunted-house attraction) inside a temple to bring in more people. Naturally, things start happening around that idea, and the comedy builds out of the situations in the temple.

The plot is fairly simple. At times, a bit too simple.

Some scenes felt as though they were being stretched out, and a few moments seemed forced rather than happening naturally. I think the writing could have been tighter and the pacing a little better.

The performances carried it

What made the whole thing enjoyable was the acting.

The cast included Jehan Anthony, Kusal Madhuranga (Manjitha), and Dinakshi Priyasad, along with another actor who was new to me.

The two main actors were especially good. Their performances and comic timing were top-notch, and there were plenty of scenes and line deliveries that genuinely made me laugh.

Even when I felt the plot wasn’t going anywhere particularly interesting, the performances kept it entertaining. That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give the show.

Worth keeping?

Yes, mostly for the overall experience.

I wouldn’t say the story or writing was anything exceptional. A sharper script and fewer drawn-out scenes would have made it much better. But the acting was excellent, the comedy worked often enough, and I had a really enjoyable evening.

More than anything, I came away appreciating the atmosphere at Namel Malini Punchi Theatre. For a first visit, it was a lovely introduction to watching live stage drama there, and it’s something I’d definitely like to do more often.