Rose with no thorns
Rose With No Thorns is a one-woman storytelling performance that traces
the extraordinary life of Ranee—from her birth during World War II in
Sri Lanka to her later years in Canada.
With warmth, humour, and
unflinching honesty, Ranee recounts a life shaped by contrast: deep love
and quiet neglect, independence and loneliness, tradition and defiance.
She navigates family expectations, unequal treatment, heartbreak, and
loss—caring for her parents, losing them, and rebuilding herself in the
aftermath. Along the way, she finds unexpected doors opening through
language, travel, and work, forging a path that is entirely her own.
At
the heart of the story is resilience. Whether facing rejection in love,
a sudden marriage born of vulnerability, or raising a child alone, Ranee
meets each turning point with courage and adaptability. Her journey
spans continents and decades, ultimately leading her to Canada, where
her story comes full circle.
Blending vivid storytelling, this
performance invites reflection on universal questions: What shapes
us—fate or choice? What does fairness in a family really look like? And
how do we learn to be parents, partners, or simply human?
Rose With
No Thorns is a deeply personal yet widely relatable story of survival,
growth, and grace—a celebration of a life fully lived, and a testament
to the quiet strength it takes to endure and rise.
A one-woman show about Ranee’s life—from growing up in Sri Lanka to building a new life in Canada. She shares stories of family, love, loss, and tough choices, often with humour. Through it all, she keeps going, finding her own way forward and learning what really matters in life.
Playwright: Ranee Wickramasekera
Director:
Gerald Osborn
Cast: Ranee
Wickramasekera
Designers: Ranee
Wickramasekera
Stage Manager: Pat Sirant
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Storytelling
-
$20.00 inc $5.00 fees -
18-August 23, 2026 -
60 minutes -
06: The Gateway Theatre -
Parental Guidance (PG) -
Show Contains: Death, Suicide
