Three-month NCF project to help revive community theatre

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has launched a project to rejuvenate community theatre, drawing on talent from the National Peace Programme and communities across Barbados.

NCF Theatre Arts Officer Janelle Mitchell told the launch of Wuh ‘en pass yuh ‘en mis yuh: A Bajan Trio on Monday at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre, that the aim was to foster community development through the performing arts.

The project seeks to also promote social development and to use drama as a change agent, she said.

“We see the importance of theatre projects in the communities as a catalyst for tackling social issues, sharing an informing history, impacting one’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development while unifying many from all walks of life,” Mitchell told reporters.

The three-month project runs from February to April 2024.

“We will see three experienced theatre practitioners, directors, adapt and bring to life the works of theatre authors or playwrights. This is going to give amateur actors who have auditioned, the opportunity to engage with mounting theatre production . . . . These community theatre projects help us ignite community development. We hope it will help to reintroduce the community to Barbados folklore stories . . . and to enhance the performance skills of those in the communities,” Mitchell added.

With the support of the Ministry of Culture and the technical coordination of the NCF, theatre practitioners Winston Farrell, Carla Springer-Hunte and Michelle Barrow will direct three locally produced plays and short stories, while sharing their knowledge and experience with the participants.

Simon Alleyne, the project’s external director, highlighted the drive to unearth and nurture hidden talent.

He said: “My vision was to provide a developmental programme that would expose young people between the ages of 18 to 35 to theatre production. What I recognise is that across communities in Barbados, there are a number of talented young people who, because of a lack of self-confidence or limited opportunities, never get a platform to develop and showcase [their] talent.

“This community theatre project is designed to attract aspiring actors, costume and set designers and stage managers to the elements of theatre production. It also provides them with the opportunity to be in a theatre production where they can showcase their talent to members of their own community. It is my hope that the participants in the project learn through hands-on experience the necessary skills to develop the creative talents to build the confidence to participate in NIFCA as well as our local theatre productions.”

Chief Cultural Officer Andrea Wells added that the initiative forms part of the NCF’s mandate to develop Barbadian culture. She said auditions for its first production, The House of Landship, were held last month. Of the 44 people who registered, there were 15 auditions and 12 were selected to be a part of the cast and crew.

Wells explained: “The National Peace Programme assisted with the audition phase by deploying their change agents to secure interests on the ground with the youth in their catchment areas. Ninety-five per cent of this project is therefore made up of amateurs who are prepared to enhance and develop their skills in the art form of theatre. To enable their participation, the project has built-in stipends which will be given to each cast and crew member throughout the rehearsal process.”

The team is aiming to hit the stage on February 17 to present it to the audiences at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed, with the hope that it will branch out to other venues after its first weekend run, Wells noted.

She revealed the next step in the series will see plays staged in March and April where the works of writers Jeannette Layne-Clarke and Timothy Callender will be presented. A second audition phase featuring a compilation of Layne-Clarke’s work, to be directed by Carla Springer-Hunte, is to be completed early next month.
(RG)