THE sounds of Jamaican theatre are set to get an upgrade as Scotiabank provides $5 million to support the acquisition of state-of-the-art sound equipment for the Little Theatre.

The contribution will help modernise the technical capabilities of one of Jamaica’s most enduring cultural spaces, while also creating opportunities for aspiring practitioners to develop skills in sound and technical production.

Beyond the new equipment, a portion of Scotiabank’s support will fund a training programme for participants from communities surrounding the theatre, as well as students at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, helping to build a pipeline of talent equipped to work behind the scenes in Jamaica’s creative industries.

“Scotiabank’s support allows us to do more than improve the quality of productions on our stage; it allows us to pass valuable technical skills on to another generation,” said Marisa Benain, chairperson of the Little Theatre Foundation. “The Little

Theatre has always been a space where Jamaican talent can learn, grow, and be seen, and this investment strengthens our ability to continue that tradition.”

The Little Theatre’s roots stretch back to the establishment of the Little Theatre Movement in 1941 by Henry and Greta Fowler.

After two decades of productions on borrowed stages, the theatre opened at Tom Redcam Avenue in 1961 and became a permanent home for Jamaican performing arts. It remains closely associated with the National Pantomime and has hosted generations of actors, dancers, musicians, and other creative practitioners.

For Scotiabank, which has served Jamaica for more than 137 years, the partnership brings together two institutions with deep roots in the country and a shared commitment to its future.

“The Little Theatre has given generations of Jamaicans a place to tell our stories and celebrate who we are.” said Yanique Forbes-Patrick, head of Caribbean Corporate Affairs, Scotiabank. “We are proud that our support will not only enhance that experience for audiences and performers, but also equip more young people with practical skills that can create opportunities within the creative economy.”

The Little Theatre continues to serve professional companies, community groups and students, and remains one of the country’s busiest performance spaces. Its stage has hosted the national pantomime, National Dance Theatre Company, Jamaica’s Festival of the Performing Arts, among numerous other productions.