WHEN the Actor Boy Awards are handed out on April 14, the work of local theatre practitioners will be recognised for excellence in their craft. Despite the brisk activity, there are some theatre community members who feel more could happen if there was more theatre space throughout the country.

But this view is not shared by all.

For producer/ director Scarlett Beharie, getting a space to mount a production these days is competitive and limited as most existing houses are tied to particular producers.

“Take the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts at University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Dennis Scott Theatre at the Edna Manley College out of the equation as they are tied to the education institutions. Centerstage is leased long term to Jambiz International and they use it exclusively. The Little Theatre is tied to the LTM and offers only short-term rental, generally one to two weekends. The other spaces such as the rebranded Phoenix Theatre, Little Little Theatre, Green Gables and Vibes theatre are on offer based on availability. So getting in as an independent producer is largely based in timing, luck and forward planning,” Beharie told the Sunday Observer.

But her fellow producer Lenny Salmon of Jambiz believes the the local community is not fully utilising the theatre space that is available.

“Karl Hart had to close down The Pantry Playhouse a few years ago because it was empty for the better part of the year. And when it was occupied, he had a hard time collecting from the persons who rented it. The Little Theatre remains dark for most Mondays to Fridays in each week,” Salmon explained.

“We must create products which attract the interest of support of the intended target market over sustained periods. It’s simple. GraceKennedy creates products which consumers want. That’s what makes them successful. Entertain is no different in my humble view. That is the philosophy which guides Jambiz,” he added.

Traditionally, the theatre week in Jamaica runs from Wednesday to Sunday. However, due to economic constraints a number of productions can only run on the weekend. Jambiz, however, is currently running its production The Duppy Whisperer up to seven days a week inside the Centerstage Theatre in New Kingston which seats 250.

Playwright and producer David Tulloch agrees that the available spaces are not being properly utilised.

“I agree with the notion that the spaces are not being properly utilised. Phoenix has two theatres now…. one seats 300 and the other seats close to 100, Vibes Theatre seats 100 and Green Gables has two spaces. I don’t think these places are booked out entirely for the rest of the year. These can be better utilised. Rather than crying that we don’t have theatre space, we should just make the best of what we have available to us and use it year-round.”

Beharie still maintains that there is need for at least two more small theatres — the size of the Little Little Theatre which seats 156.

“At least two more spaces of that size would be useful on the commercial circuit. On a larger scale and more long-term, [basis] we should be looking to a full performing arts centre with multiple playing spaces from as large as 4000 seats, which is the capacity of the National Indoor Sports Centre. This could accommodate productions such as Father Ho Lung’s annual event. It should also have smaller size spaces for commerical, experimental and training spaces. Theatre is a business, so this is an opportunity for the private sector to invest,” said Beharie.

Currently the theatre community operates from The Little Theatre, Green Gables Playhouse, Vibes Theatre, Centerstage, Little Little Theatre, The Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, Edna Manley College, The Courtleigh Auditorium, and the newly reopened Phoenix Theatre. Outside of the Corporate Area, the only other functioning designated theatre space is the Fairfield Theatre in Montego Bay which is now being operated by actress -turned-producer Nadean Rawlins and her RAW Talent Management team.