Baptiste: Greater appreciation needed for local theatre

Expressing grave concern about the foreign media programming being streamed over the airwaves, Minister of Culture René Baptiste has called for greater appreciation of local theatre.{{more}}

Baptiste, who made this appeal at the launch of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Theatre Arts Festival, which kicks off in November, admitted that there was an unhealthy importation of what she described as “the worst aspects of other people’s culture,” that needed to be counteracted with good local programming.

The Culture Minister said that this trend needed to be changed, since it was influencing, especially the youth, in a negative way. She said that although this country was a part of the world, it must not feel dominated by the penetration of other people’s culture.

While she commended drama coordinator Martin Quashie for his role in the development of drama in this country, she said there was a need for more personnel.

Minister Baptiste, however, revealed that three students of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College were being sent to Cuba to be trained in Visual Arts. She urged the various participants to utilize the opportunities being afforded through the Festival and to give quality performances each time.

Assuring the Minister and the public that the five groups that will be delivering performances at the Peace Memorial Hall will give quality shows was Drama Coordinator Martin Quahsie. He said that each theatre company will receive tips on how they could improve, and encouraged the groups to have performances even after the Festival is over.

The drama coordinator expressed the hope of one day seeing someone from this country making it to the big screen in Hollywood, and encouraged those with the talent to continue sharpening their craft.

NCB representative Cheryl Rodriguez pointed out that the creative arts was a powerful tool in cultural expression, and said that her organization was pleased to be sponsors of the Festival for the fifth year. She said that over the years, the Festival had evolved from just drama productions to song, poetry, music, creative writing, dance, and even body building, hence the name change from the Community Drama Festival to the Theatre Arts Festival.

The five groups participating in the Festival in November are: Urban Expression Theatre, with performances on 2, 3 and 4th, and the Methodist Dramatists on the 9, 10 and 11th, the Police Training School on 16, 17 and 18th, the SVG Community College on 23, 24 and 25th, and the Waves Theatre Guild on 28, 29 and 30th.

Each group received $1,200 from the sponsors to help with their productions.