NIFCA staging three nights of theatre in Queen’s Park

Three nights of passionate performances of prose are promised when the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts’ (NIFCA) stages: Weekend of Theatre.

Lovers of literature, those with a soft spot for stagecraft and any Bajan who enjoys exciting entertainment, are invited to the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre in Queen’s Park to witness the continuing “Tradition of Excellence” despite a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On November 17, 18 and 20, each night will feature special remounted pieces dedicated to respective competition categories of NIFCA. Spoken Word will take centre-stage on Thursday, Total Theatre on Friday, and Drama will be the curtain call on Sunday. Action starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday while Sunday is 6 p.m.

Renee Taylor, Cultural Officer, Theatre Arts at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), is excited to reconnect thespians with their audience.

“We’re showing off!” she said of the upcoming event for the abridged festival. Taylor was playing on the new theme song for this year which carried the hook line “Come leh we show off”.

The Cultural Officer said the stage is set and performers are ready.

There will be spoken word at NIFCA Weekend of Theatre.

“[NIFCA] belongs to all of us. We want to see that. We want to have that back. This is sort of a little taster of what you can expect [when the festival returns in full]. To whet people’s appetites and say ‘We’re still doing this. We’re still here. Our performers are still ready, willing, able.”

Stalwarts and veterans such as Winston Farrell, Victor Clifford and Yolanda Holder while be on stage with the likes of Cyndi Celeste, Wayne “Butter Skillet” Harewood, Akeem Chandler-Prescod, Janine White, Dancing Africa, Gentle Steps Academy, and Sonia Williams.

They are just a few of the notable past NIFCA performers and award winners – spanning generations and genres – gracing the stage. 

“It’s a little bit of something for everybody,” said Taylor. 

NIFCA award winner Janine White will be performing on Thursday.

As it is NIFCA’s first iteration since Barbados became a Republic, Renee hopes this Weekend of Theatre will kickstart a deeper connection between locals and our unique cultural expressions through performance.

“I think we should be looking at evolving. Really taking note of where we came and being entrenched in, and knowing more about, our intangible cultural heritage – the things that make us uniquely Barbadian,” she said.

“Holding on to those things, yes. Knowing their history, but learning how to modernise them. Evolve them. And take them to the next step of our cultural identity.” 

Tickets for NIFCA’s ‘Weekend of Theatre’ are available at NCF West Terrace, CS Pharmacy, Digicel, Sky Mall and online and www.ticketpal.com For additional information, visit www.ncf.bb. (PR)