From the Jamaican theatre stage

Friday, December 23, 2011

THE local theatre scene was a vibrant one in 2011.

Reports indicate that this was one of the busiest with over 30 plays will be staged before the year is out. The brisk nature of the biz was also reflected in terms of length of each production with most enjoying a run of a minimum of four weekends to a maximum of eight months.

This year also saw a number of new producers and production houses coming to the fore including DMH production, headed by Dahlia Harris, Eight Seven Six headed by Keiran King, OSME headed by Oliver Samuels, Show Time production headed by Dennis Titus and Power Play Productions headed by Clive Duncan.

A few new directors and playwrights have been emerging too — notable — Keiran King for the musical Last Call and Peter Abrikian who directs Oliver Samuels' Who is Di Don?

Remounts such as Basil Dawkins' A Gift for Mom, Karl Williams' Not About Eve and Patrick Brown's Charlie's Angels enjoyed a comeback and highlighted the acting chops of established actors such as Alwyn Scott and Ruth Ho Shing (A Gift for Mom), Carol Lawes in Not About Eve and Glen Campbell and Teisha Duncan in Charlies' Angel.

Some new talents in acting were also introduced to the stage including Miss Jamaica World 2001 Regina Beavers, and sixth former Fontain Jones in A Gift for Mom and Lisa Williams who made her film debut GhettA Life, taking to the stage in Not Above Eve.

Other productions Father Ho Lung's Acts of the Apostles, God's Way, Hairpiece, If Walls Could Talk, Stop That Train, Big Tree Small Axe, Double Dose, The Politician, Button Hole Bandit and Block 24

Also of importance for theatre 2011 is the establishment of the new Stages Theatre on Knutsford Blvd in New Kingston. This newly furnished space houses two independent theatre spaces that each cater to roughly 250 patrons.

The local theatre community is promising great things in 2012 or as it is being referred to — Theatre 50. To coincide with Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence, more than 45 productions are down to take to the stage during the calendar.