The Hairoun Theatre out-acted the competition to cop the most awards, including the Best Director’s trophy during this year’s National Commercial Bank (NCB) Drama Festival.

Members of Hairoun Theatre walked away with seven out of a total nine awards at the awards ceremony held at the Cruise Ship and Ferry Berth’s Conference Room last week Thursday.{{more}}

The group took top spots for costumes, make-up and set design. Their actresses LaFayette James and Ann-Marie Hunte were adjudged Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively, for their roles in the play, “A Love Story”.

James played Tricia and Hunte was Jillian. Colin Graham of Hairoun Theatre also took the festival’s Best Actor award for his role as Robert Young in “A Love Story”, while Hairoun Theatre’s director Michael Peters was awarded the Best Director award.

The St. Vincent Community College had the Best Supporting Actor in Lonnie Robinson. Robinson played a student/father in the play “Term One”. No award was given for Best Stage Management.

Addressing the awards ceremony, Minister of Tourism and Culture Rene Baptiste urged actors to always “think big” when it comes to acting as she hopes that one day acting will become one of our cultural industries. Minister Baptiste lauded the Community College for taking part this year. She said she hopes she can take dramatists overseas to London to witness live plays and get a first-hand look at set designs and orchestra pits. She said she sees drama as one way of curbing the violence that seems prevalent in the community.

Cheryl Rodriguez of the National Commercial Bank, after handing out the awards, said the bank is very happy to support drama. She said that drama is culture and “when you develop culture, you develop the people”. Rodriguez urged persons to continue, “as there is a lot in store for you in drama”. She also pledged the bank’s continued support.