TONI-KAY Dawkins grew up in theatre. But never in her wildest dreams did she think that one day she would be directing a production by her father renowned writer/director/producer Basil Dawkins, especially a script like Toy Boy.

She is nervous about living up to the legacy of her father’s work but she is confident in his judgement of her ability and in the intelligence and talents her two award-winning actors, Maylynn Walton and Christopher McFarlane, and her technical team.

The younger Dawkins has great respect for the process and the art form and has used theatre as a creative outlet to balance her other loves of working in marketing and television.

“Where theatre is concerned I did not know I would end up here, though in a lot of ways all the work I have done in this field has prepared me for this moment. From growing up around it not only through my father but also through my mother who has worked as a set dresser and costume designer; to studying directing, film and acting at the Bennington College in Vermont.

She has no recollection of the original mounting of Toy Boy and therefore sees her work in the 2013 production as uncharted territory.

“I am the first woman to direct Toy Boy and I believe this has allowed me to treat the fragile lead character and the subject matter of old love lost and new love discovered with the respect and sensitivity that she and her situation deserves,” says Dawkins

Basil Dawkins’ Toy Boy has its final run this weekend at the Little Theatre in St Andrew and will feature Ossie D & Stevie G in cabaret.