New Play Festival aims to unify T&T theatre community

The inaugural Annual New Play Festival (2016), conceptualised and organised by the Playwrights Workshop Trinbago (a playwrights group maintained by Lordstreet Theatre Company), in association with the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, is an opportunity for young directors and actors to collaborate, hone and showcase their skills using scripts which have never before been produced.

Under the aegis of theatre legends Albert Laveau and Tony Hall, three young directors will present stage productions of MIRACLE by Ronald John, ANGELS LIVE IN TUNAPUNA by Sonja Dumas and HELL by Safa Niamat-Ali. Miracle was inspired by the real-life kidnap and murder of Vindra Naipaul-Coolman in 2007, however, what is presented all comes from the playwright’s imagination. While Angels Live In Tunapuna speaks of friendship and redemption, Hell explores one woman’s journey for vengeance for all the wrongs she suffered.

The Annual New Play Festival 2016 aims to unify and grow the presently fragmented theatre community within Trinidad and Tobago. It also promotes the possibility of young directors, playwrights, actors and technicians emerging from our communities. Therefore, the young directors and actors will be given the opportunity to work with experienced theatre practitioners such as Mervyn De Goeas, Penelope Spencer, Christine Johnston, Michael Cherrie, Ralph Maraj, Rawle Gibbons and Dr. Efebo Wilkinson, among others.

The festival is also a tool which will be used for the revitalisation of the National Drama Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NDATT). The theatre practitioners in T&T aspire to establish and foster the growth of a theatre industry in T&T, as a viable, sustainable source of revenue for both the fraternity and the nation.

The Annual New Play Festival 2016 runs from October 28 to 31, 2016, at the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Corner Norfolk Street and Jerningham Avenue, Belmont. Over the course of four days, the three plays will run a combined total of ten times. Additionally, the festival programme comprises post-mortem panel discussions to elicit the views of the festival participants, inclusive of the audience.

For further information,  email newplayfestivaltt@hotmail.com or call 351-6293.