What a Night, at the theatre!
The key to unlocking creativity is through self-expression. It’s about communication. Four theatre groups took to the stage on Wednesday night in outstanding theatrical productions. Their use of subtle, sometimes audacious, reflective and witty messages gave the expectant audience a lot to ponder on.
Five young ladies after the brutal murder of their young friend, meet to observe the first anniversary of her untimely passing. “In Memoriam”, was conceptualized by Travis Weeke’s, of The Travis Weeke’s Project, with a view to give a creative response to recent murders of young women in the society. Through their spiritual exercise the friends “not only achieve a fuller understanding of the context that brings about such violence but their subsequent prayers brings them a greater sense of closure and deepen their commitment towards the attainment of peace.”
They started off as a facebook group, with a make-believe radio talk show. With whit and satire, the “radio” group for the first time did a stage performance of the piece “Mangé Cochon”. Writers Kiedel Sonny and Dexter “Drybones” Felix adopt the traditional street theatre or melodramatic style of our Saint Lucian culture to highlight the theme of deception. According to Sonny, “I used the approach of a calypsonian, to be the voice of the people. I wanted to show the audience the various ways in which the upper class in society treat the lower class and to highlight that none can be completely trusted.” 
The dramatic piece “Existence precedes Essence” was put on by Zenaida Productions. The audience was taken on a contemplative journey through the lives of three young people who were all questioning the human condition, the meaning of life and human existence. Issues of true beauty, self-worth and purpose were brought to the fore in a series of monologues which brought the audience to a place of self-discovery and a longing to live life to its full and intended purpose.
Youth On Fire Ministries brought the curtains down with their experimental piece, “Barbadee”. Director Magnus Deboville, uses nursery rhymes and develops a plot which encapsulates the themes of encroachment, gossip, consolation and deception. According to Deboville, “Everything is connected. I wanted to show that a story can be told by using the meanings of something considered to be basic – nursery rhymes.
A Night of Theatre was one of the many events which made up Festival Week. The week’s activities continue Thursday, April 10th with Performance Poetry at the National Cultural Centre from 7:30 p.m.
