Kylie visits Children Of The Sea

Kylie with some of the theatrical troupe

During a recent trip to Sri Lanka, Kylie Minogue visited the local Sri Lankan theatrical troupe Children Of The Sea, sponsored by Plan.

Children Of The Sea is the brainchild of the award-winning British director and producer Toby Gough, and was formed in the aftermath of the tsunami.

Performed by a group of 27 Sri Lankans, most of whom are children, the show is a version of 'Pericles' adapted to relate to the tragedy left behind by the tsunami. It features songs and dances from Sri Lanka’s various cultures, alongside acrobats, fire-eaters, plate-spinners, traditional local drums and even an elephant!

Through participation and its message the show empowers children in the region. It has been successful in lifting morale throughout the ravaged country and has also given the cast and crew the opportunity to develop valuable skills.

The children, many of whom were orphaned by either the natural disaster or civil war, have received much international praise, when the show won rave reviews and two first prizes at the Edinburgh Festival in 2005!

Kylie is a sponsor of the group and their patron. Due to an illness she had been unable to attend a performance before now. Her only direct contact with the children had been through letters exchanged. Her surprise visit to Sri Lanka brought smiles to the faces of the cast and crew as well as joy to the audiences in the temporary housing camps set up for the tsunami victims.

Her connection with the director goes back to 1999 when Toby took her to Barbados to perform the role of Miranda in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. “Kylie has been a supporter of Children of the Sea from its inception. Though I had often asked her to visit us here in Sri Lanka her arrival was a total surprise – the children were overjoyed. The highlight for us all was when she traveled with the cast and crew on our tour bus laughing and singing songs” said Toby.

Kylie said; “I was so happy to finally meet the children and see the results of Toby’s energy and vision, their triumph through adversity is inspiring. My visit was all too short. Everyone has been so welcoming - I do hope to return one day soon!”

The children involved in Children Of The Sea hope to return to the UK this year.