Laughter and message at Drama Fest
This weekend, the Phoenix Theatre in St Andrew will be the venue for Drama Fest. The event will see three productions by Freedom Ministry taking to the stage, aimed at providing comic relief, while at the same time sharing a message with the audience.
Freedom Ministry is a Christian theatre organisation that partners with churches, companies and individuals to raise funds for various missions. For Drama Fest, which is now in its fourth year, the group will showcase Idler’s Corner tonight followed by Hidden Intentions on Saturday and close with Poisonous Proposition on Sunday.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, founder and president of Freedom Ministry Pastor Cornelius Brown explained that the idea of Drama Fest is to provide a platform where different plays with various topics can be seen over one weekend.
“One evening we were in a meeting and the lord drop into one of our hearts the idea of having a festival of multiple plays over one weekend and that was where the name Drama Fest was manifested”, he said.
“Hidden Intentions is about motive and encourages individuals that they should find their true motive in life. Idler’s Corner has a great message that tells my brothers on the corner that they cannot continue to waste their life away and that a change is needed. While Poisonous Proposition deals with temptation in which we often times don’t resist and find ourselves in chaos,” Brown explained.
He also shared that patrons are in for a treat as the cast of the productions combine a mix of established and emerging talent in theatre.
“It’s a mixture of what Shabba Ranks would say the elders and the upcoming. The show will feature veterans such as Karen Harriott, Earle Brown, Paula Thompson, Andrew Jones and Tesfa Edwards. Upcoming actors will include Karen Fray, Anthea Francis and Chestlyn Franics. Writer and actress at Freedom Ministry, Paula Thompson, encouraged patrons to come out to the event to witness the various messages being told and enjoy the comedic element as well.
“It’s a positive message behind the plays and once you attend you will find yourselves being uplifted and ministered to .The plays will be fun and hilarious and laughter is always good for the soul.”