The Ward Theatre in Downtown Kingston.THE WARD Theatre Foundation will be attempting to raise $358,930 to refurbish the Ward Theatre in Downtown Kingston. It was toward this goal that 'The Year of the Ward' was launched by His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke, O.N., at Kings House, Hope Road, St. Andrew, on Wednesday. The Governor-General was acting in his role as the patron of the Ward Theatre Foundation.
Ruby Martin, the chairperson of the foundation's fund-raising committee, told The Gleaner that the foundation had received pledges totalling $6.2 million at the launch. The foundation has established pledge forms on which individuals and institutions can register their pledges. These range from the Platinum sponsor of $5 million per year through to personal gifts of any amount. Mrs. Martin noted that any gift would be welcome. "It's everybody's business," she said. "Everything will be accepted, from a cent up."
The foundation hopes to restore the Georgian building's now faded beauty, but also to once again make the Ward Theatre an integral part of cultural development in Kingston. In his speech at the launch event Wycliffe Bennett, the chairman of the Ward Foundation, pointed out that the aim of the campaign was to allow the Ward to function as a civic and cultural centre.
TOPICAL ISSUE
The need for the refurbishing of the Ward Theatre has been a topical issue over the last year. The grave state of disrepair of the national institution was brought sharply into focus when it was noted that the National Pantomime would, for the second time in its history, not open at the Ward Theatre on Boxing Day.
Mr. Bennett pointed out that the most important issues which need to be dealt within restoring the building are the replacement of the roof, all existing plumbing and electrical fixtures and the acquisition of a stand-by generator.
The foundation also hopes to replace the air-conditioning unit; upgrade the dressing rooms, lobby, concession area and box office; replace all seats in the theatre; repaint the internal and external walls and establish an administrative block. The administrative block will contain offices, a souvenir shop, equipment shop, a studio, workrooms and a rehearsal room/ancillary theatre.
In an interview with The Gleaner, Bennett noted that the foundation will also be seeking the involvement and development of the surrounding community. He pointed out that this will involve training in theatre arts, including areas such as costume design and set creation.
Bennett noted that it is for this reason that the foundation seeks to acquire the Family Court Building and 13 North Parade, which now houses the Theatre Bar and Restaurant. Both properties will cost $8 million. Mr. Bennett revealed that the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), which owns the property housing the restaurant, has agreed to its sale. They hope to receive the necessary funds from the Culture Health Arts Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund.
A GIFT
The Ward was gven to Kingston by Lieutenant Colonel Charles James Ward and first opened its doors in 1912. It was the third theatre to sit on the current grounds, following the demise of first The Kingston Theatre then The Theatre Royal in the 1907 earthquake.
Rather than merely depending on donations, the foundation will also be producing a series of concerts aimed at raising funds. The first of these will take place next Friday, with 'Broadway on Ice'.
For this, the historic stage will be transformed into an ice-skating show, which will involve world renowned ice-skaters Christian Hendricks and Nadia Kova Sharp.
The ice-laden spectacular will be followed by a 12-week entertainment series dubbed 'Reliving The Glory'. This series of concerts will feature local artistes, including The Jamaica Big Band, Fab Five, Leroy Sibbles and Charles Hyatt. There will also be excerpts from plays by the LTM Pantomime Company, Ralph Holness, Louis Marriott, Trevor Rhone and Lloyd Reckord, as well as performances by Movements Dance Company, the Emmanuel Choir and the Portmore Vision Choir.
