ALTHOUGH her father has written and directed some of Jamaican theatre’s classic plays, TK Dawkins is passionate about preserving his legacy and ensuring her generation has an awareness of Basil Dawkins’ work.

She is director for his latest production, Hide Your Husband, currently playing at the Little Little Theatre in Kingston.

“I’ve always thought it unfortunate that there is no record of my father’s 40 plus years of plays —and I’d like to do something about that. My goal is to convert all of his plays, or maybe his top 10, into screenplays so they will live forever,” Dawkins told the Jamaica Observer. “I’m also working on writing my own play, with a goal of bringing a younger audience into our productions.”

Since her debut with a remounted Toy Boy in 2013 she has directed five more of her father’s plays, including Hide Your Husband which opened in April. It is “father Dawkins’ ” first play since COVID-19 forced a lockdown of national sectors for almost two years.

Hide Your Husband stars Maylynne Lowe, Donald Anderson, Earle Brown and Pablo Hoilett. Dawkins said there were initial jitters but response to the cheaters comedy has been satisfactory.

“As the first theatrical production to open after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, audiences were excited and understandably apprehensive. The many who have attended have enjoyed the show and have even returned to see it again. They are pleased to see that we maintain COVID protocols like sanitising and filling only 70 per cent of the theatre’s capacity. Overall, the reception has been very positive and the feedback has been encouraging,” she said.

In addition to Toy Boy, the younger Dawkins has directed Guilt Trip, Four Can’t Play, Dangerous Ambitions and Once A Man Twice A Wife, her father’s last play before the COVID-induced break. There was no ring-rust when the cast hit the stage four months ago.

“The actors have not only decades of acting experience but are also extremely passionate about acting and so they easily and excitedly embodied their roles in this production — even after the [two] years of not acting. They were all ready to be back on stage again!” Dawkins exclaimed.

Her father debuted in 1980 with the play Flat Mate. Some of his other hit productions include Champagne & Sky Juice and What The Hell is Happening to us Dear?

There is never any anxiety to emulate her old man, who will be awarded the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in October for services to Jamaican theatre.

“I find each production, including this one, to be a mixture of joy and pressure. I’m cognisant of my duty to the playwright, audience, actors and theatre industry and take it seriously,” shared Dawkins. “I understood that many were feeling the impact of these unprecedented times — whether psychologically, socially or financially — and so I was very intentional about injecting as much fun and laughter into the directing process and final product as possible. I think we all needed it!”

Hide Your Husband, which closes at the end of August, has two shows today — 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm.