Theatre stakeholders want more for sector

The theatre landscape in Jamaica has encountered its fair share of challenges, with a number of prominent theatres ceasing operations.

These include Phoenix Theatre, The Pantry, The Barn Theatre, all in the Corporate Area, and Carma's Performing Arts Club in Montego Bay. The Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston is still being restored. These developments have sparked various theories about the underlying causes for the seeming decline of theatre, ranging from a scarcity of high-quality plays to a generational shift towards alternative forms of storytelling. Some have even suggested that a vacuum has been created in Jamaican theatre by the passing and absence of stalwarts.

However, Anya Gloudon, daughter of late theatre icon Barbara Gloudon, said this is all due to cost.

"Theatre is in big trouble. It's a major problem, because even Little Theatre is under pressure to keep up the place because the costs are very high. There are limited places where we can go and have everything that you want set up; you shouldn't have to pay to bring in light, chairs and sound. These things should be there, and it would be nice if the Government gives us a space and would allow things to come in at a discounted rate," Gloudon said.

The production director, who said that she has been in theatre from the womb, shares her mother's belief that government's involvement may affect artistic expression, and although she prefers not to involve lawmakers, they should allow for things to happen.

"Allow me to be able to bring in my own light and sound equipment and retrofit a space. If I can get the zoning allowance, then that would make it more suitable for places," she said. "People want entertainment [to be] provided at a high-class level, so if there were more performance venues which could accommodate both theatre and concert, it would be ideal."

Cecile Clayton, a writer and play judge, opined that people still prefer to go out and interact.

"You will look at all these comedy shows once or twice a year, you can watch it on the media and 'ha ha' to yourself, but it's much more enjoyable when you are with a group of people and you can 'belly laugh' loudly with friends. People still want to dress up and go out," she said. "They see it as entertainment, where you go out and you profile with your boyfriend, or you dress up in your 'dan dan'."

As the theatre scene in Jamaica has evolved, Jamaicans also view it differently. Patrons show an affinity for comedies for amusement, but also like dramatic pieces, so it allows for diversity.

"Theatre still has vibrancy and purpose ... and so effort should be made for more theatre opportunities," Clayton told THE STAR.