DESPITE packing the halls islandwide, producers of roots plays have long complained that they are ignored by mainstream Jamaican theatre. On August 20, however, they honoured their own at the inaugural Roots Theatre Awards held at Hibiscus Lodge in Ocho Rios.

The event was co-produced by the Jamaica Roots Theatre Foundation, Dynamite Productions and Lacell Entertainment. It saluted stalwarts and current stars of a genre that has enjoyed a grass roots following for over 40 years.

Andrea Wright, known to roots plays fans as Delcita, told the Jamaica Observer that a show celebrating its leading lights is overdue. She took a swipe at organisers of the annual Actor Boy Awards, accusing them of “classism”.

“I cannot count on one hand the amount of times a roots play has won an Actor Boy Award. A show like this is extremely important because they don’t care about us,” said Wright.

She noted that unlike many mainstream plays, roots productions are staged in Jamaica’s 14 parishes and attract full houses.

“Not even that we get recognition for,” argued Wright.

The Clarendon-born guidance counsellor has played the outrageous Delcita since 1990. Created by playwright Paul O Beale, the character debuted in his play, Mr Dweet Nice. Over the years Wright has played this persona in numerous productions including Court House Drama and Honeymoon With Delcita and Patchie.

Producer Ralph Holness, considered the father of roots theatre, was one of four persons given posthumous awards. Known for slapstick classics such as Unda mi Nose, Dead Lef, and Obeah Wedding, he died in 2013.

Beale, who died in 2019; actors Clive Duncan (died 2020), best known for his role as Mr Upton in the television series Lime Tree Lane, and Cleve “Chu Chu” Warren who passed away in 2014, were similarly honoured.

Other stalwarts recognised were actors Maxwell “Maama Man” Grant, a regular in Holness’s plays; Garfield “Bad Bwoy Trevor” Reid and dance choreographer Orville Hall.

The inaugural honorees were rounded out by Joshua Tomlin, Juliet Shank, Lascell “Mr Handsome” Parnell, Luke Ellington, Irvine Forrest, Bevin Campbell, Daniele Harvey, Margaret Wilson, Norris Chambers, Bob Clarke, Suzette Barrett-Ennis, Marshall Pottinger, Percival Francis, and Trudy Campbell-Fraser.