Gracia Thompson comes full circle

Actress seeks to regain a foothold in theatre

Friday, September 16, 2011

GRACIA Thompson has come a far way from her humble beginnings in Chudleigh, Manchester.

Trendy outfits, modish hairstyles and a speck of a British accent all indicate her flair for the contemporary, and yet it is her country girl charm that strikes you the most. While reminiscing on her childhood, it's not hard to understand why that rural bond has never been broken, as it literally set the stage for where she is today.

"We spent our childhood entertaining ourselves at home and within the community as there was no money to go to the closest town where there was a cinema and other entertainment venues. My mother would host dance and speech competitions at home but none of her children ever won these competitions as the prize always went to another villager."

The fact that she states her mother as her first influence in theatre arts is not surprising. While Thompson and her older siblings, Sandra and David, generated a love for the arts through the community showcase, their mother further ignited their passion through yearly trips to the national pantomime.

"We looked forward to seeing it at the Ward Theatre each year, it was quite a spectacle. That's where my interest in theatre grew and very early in life I made the decision my career was to be on the stage".

With her mother's blessings she ventured to the city for formal training at Edna Manley College, where voice and speech tutor Anthony Miller, Leonie Forbes and good friend Deon Silvera are among the people who made significant contributions to her development as an actor. While still a student, she rose to national prominence as May on the extremely popular television series Lime Tree Lane aired on JBC TV.

A tour with the production One Of Our Sons Is Missing followed fresh out of college along with a teaching job at Ardenne High School.

Since then she has remained in the classroom, guiding her students to numerous national awards. Several have gone on to pursue careers in the performing arts. For Thompson, this brings her as much satisfaction as being on stage.

"Jamaica has produced some of the most talented performers in the world and I feel honoured to have taught some of the best emerging and established talents in the island. Working with youth is a positive way to assist in the development of culture in Jamaica."

Countless productions under her belt, among her favourites are Heron's Ecstasy and Titus' Coming To England, which allowed her to tour Europe. It is however Karl Hart's Dem Good Ole Days which see cites as her most memorable. The production served as a delightful history lesson and was extremely well received.

"It was a brilliant script and gave me the opportunity to work with not only a great bunch, but a diverse group of actors covering a ranges of age groups. To go on stage every night was a pleasure and it was great to work with my mentor and the show's producer Karl Hart."

The tour of Europe may have somehow motivated Thompson's decision to move to England to teach, however, she came to realise that 'colonisation in reverse' still carries many challenges. After close to a decade away, she returned home.

"It was a decision I came to regret as it stalled my acting career for years. I learnt a lot about racism and alienation. I had to run back to my homeland".

Her career now back on track, Thompson was most recently seen in Titus' Big Tree, Small Axe and has a recurring role on the television soap The Blackburns as the protective mother Delores. At the moment, she is engrossed with the upcoming gospel drama God's Way which opens on September 30 at The Theatre Place in New Kingston. Thompson plays the central character Valerie, who is embroiled in a spiritual battle which rocks her faith to its core.

"It's different from other roles because I play a woman who is herself constantly role playing. The ability to colour and shade this character so her pretensions appear realistic and not as the actor 'playing' a role, provide a challenge that will force me to stretch my skills. I would love to inspire and touch the lives of people who come to watch this show."

As it relates to her aspirations as an actor, Thompson has her eyes set on roles that will show her versatility, including characters that are more hard core. She hopes for an industry where there is consistent employment with high-quality theatrical and film offerings. For young thespians with formal training, but not enough exposure, she say don't lose heart.

"Start your own theatre group... volunteer for independent films or at established theatre companies... if you are good, in time your day will come."

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Gracia Thompson comes full circle