Theatre Arts Festival looking to connect youth and age

The 2024 Ministry of Culture, Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines (BOSVG), National Performing Arts Festival is designed this year so that young people involved in the Performing Arts can connect with the elders in the business.

“We hope to make a connection with the younger participants who indicated interest in participating…” Sean Frederick said at the launch of the 2024 festival held last Friday, October 18, 2024 at the conference room of the Carnival Development Corporation in Victoria Park.

Frederick is a cultural officer assigned to the Department of Culture, and has responsibility for theatre and drama. He said this year, young people involved will come from several groups, including the St Vincent Community College (SVCC) Performing Arts Society; the Division of Nursing Education Performing Arts Club; and a number of church and community organisations.

“The aim is to make greater connections and collaborations with the nation’s creatives through various institutions, organisations and individuals who have the same goals as us,” Frederick said at the launch, while noting that the activities will take place at various venues, including the Peace Memorial Hall, Richmond Hill.

The Festival opens on Sunday November 10, 2024, under the theme, “Envision the art of creating-Grounding with our elders”.

Frederick said the festival will feature a collaboration with entities like the New Artist Movement (NAM), an entity with over 50 years of drama and cultural presentations, as well as individuals like cultural icon David “Darkie” Williams, who was a member of NAM, and cultural enthusiast, Jaykel Mars.

Events making up the festival calendar include NAM skits, poems, and monologues on the opening night, a panel discussion on the state of Culture and The Arts on November 16, 2024, and a mock hanging on November 23.

Frederick said one of the main aims of the 2024 festival is to showcase Vincentian traditions and rituals. He said last year during the night of folk re-enactment they had “Tea Meeting”, and this year they will do “Mock Hanging” with a number of young persons involved. The mock hanging will be directed by David “Darkie” Williams.

The feature presentation, a drama production, will be directed by Jaykel Mars. It is called “Dance Bongo”, written by Errol Hill, and will take place on November 29, 2024. Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Theatre Arts students will use a component of the festival as their School Based Assessment (SBA).

Also speaking at the launch of the ceremony were Marketing and Communications Manager at BOSVG, Patricia John, and Minister of Culture, Carlos James, among others.

John said as title sponsors, the BOSVG is proud to be part of the festival, and their over 10 year partnership has stood the test of time. She said the Bank enjoys supporting culture and the arts.