Cabinet today approved the lease of state-owned property for use by the Trindad Theatre Workshop.
The TTW will find a new home at No. 6 Newbold Street, St. Clair. This decision, which was made on March 23rd , followed a request by the Ministry of Community Develoment, Culture and the Arts through the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications for suitable accommodations for TTW because its old location at 23 Jerningham Avenue, Belmont is up for sale.
Cabinet approved a five (5) year lease at a peppercorn rent (a very nominal rent of $10) per year. TTW will use the new location as an educational facility for theatre arts.
Minister of Public Administration and Communications, the Honourable Maxie Cuffie said “the Government is honoured to be of assistance to TTW given the contribution the space has made and continues to make, to theatre arts in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. And while we mourn the loss of Derek Walcott, thee is no greater way to honour him but to ensure TTW is not homeless and his vision lives on”
TTW was founded by the late Sir Derek Alton Walcott in 1959 who continued as the workshop’s director until 1971. Local thespians like Beryl Mc Burnie, Stanley Marshall and Errol Jones also honed their craft at TTW.
Minister of Community development Culture and the Arts, Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly added: “Sir Derek Walcott’s vision for and contribution to the theatre arts lives on in the TTW and the MCDCA is pleased to have played a role in ensuring that training in the arts continues to be accessible as a critical pillar of cultural development”
Cabinet also approved a delegation, led by Dr. Gadsby-Dolly and a member of TTW to attend the funeral service of Walcott.
Walcott died on March 17 at the age of 87 in his native St. Lucia. The funeral service would be held on Sunday, march 25th at the Immaculate Conception in Castries, St. Lucia.
The Trinidad and Tobago Performing Arts Network 