The December instalment of the Playwrights Workshop Trinbago (PWT) Monthly Readers Theatre Series (MRTS), will feature the cold reading of The Great Western Islands Festival by Keon Francis. The reading will take place on Wednesday December 6 at 7:00 PM (GMT -4) online via Zoom only.
In The Great Western Islands Festival, characters from ten different islands, tired of the lack of recognition from the ‘more developed’ characters of the world, decide that the best way for them to gain recognition is to join together as one grand festival. But with no real history of working together, they must overcome lack of trust and infighting if they are to stand any chance of success.
Keon Francis is a playwright, actor, director, writer, author of a Caribbean epic fantasy novel entitled Children of the Eternal Mother, and is currently pursuing a Phd in Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies St Augustine. In an interview with the T&T Performing Arts Network, Francis revealed that piece is part of his practice for his PhD thesis in which he explores the significance of theatrical productions based on historical occurrences in the Caribbean. The inspiration for this play comes out of his research into historical events in the region.
When asked of his expectations of having his work read at PWT’s MRTS, he said,
“As a writer, it is important to hear the play read [by other voices], because up until this point the play has essentially been in my own head. When it comes to the fore, and people actually read it, it brings it to life in a way that allows me to hear and see things that, while it was in my head, I probably would not have heard.”
PWT is inviting actors, playwrights, directors, producers and the general public to join us via Zoom to listen to the cold reading and participate in the discussion to assist the playwright with the further development of the script.
The event will be held on Wednesday December 6 at 7:00 PM (GMT -4).
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86773729192
Meeting ID: 86773729192
Join one. Join all. Bring a friend.
PWT reads new stage, screen, and radio plays on the first Wednesday of every month. Plays read in 2023 for the Monthly Readers Theatre Series will qualify for workshopping, staging and award consideration at the New Play Festival 2024. For further information or to submit a script for reading in the MRTS, email playwrightsworkshoptt@gmail.com; call/text/WhatsApp (868) 351-6293; find us on Facebook and Instagram @playwrightsworkshoptt; or on NDATT’s website https://iamndatt.org.tt/playwrightsworkshoptt/.
The Trinidad and Tobago Performing Arts Network 