Schools' Drama Festival struggles on
published: Friday | November 28, 2003
By Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
LAST WEEK Thursday, the Schools' Drama Festival completed its 54th staging after three days of competition at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Drive, Kingston. Eight schools participated in this year's event.
Aston Cooke, secretary of the Drama Festival Committee, noted that the small number of students who enter the festival is related to the state of drama in high schools. He noted that for many schools, drama is still an extra-curricular activity which is taught by literature teachers. He noted that because of this there is not sufficient commitment in many schools to get the productions prepared in time for the festival.
Cooke, who was president of the committee for two years, noted that there is a tendency for several schools to register for the festival, but by November declare that they are not sufficiently prepared for the competition.
He noted, however, that because of the age of the festival the committee is committed to seeing it survive. "Yes there is room for other drama competitions," he said, "but we don't want to let go of this one."
Cooke also pointed to the festival's embracing of experimental theatre and pieces which students often do not have a chance to tackle. Indeed, an experimental piece earned the trophy for Best Production this year. St. Jago's Baby Daddy used improvised work by the actors to give a gripping version of teenage pregnancy. The production also earned the trophies for Best Director (Pauline Matthie) and Best Supporting Actor (Kirk Brown).
It was the second time St. Jago used improvisation from the students to create their work. Last year the school presented The Children Are The Future. Rather than staging a coherent play, they worked with several sketches which were united by the theme of abuse. That production earned them trophies for Best Ensemble, Best Supporting Actor Male (Shaun Drysdale), Best Supporting Actor Female (Teniesha Lawes) and Best Director (Matthie). This year's competition also featured two adaptations of Shakespeare, a Kamau Brathwaite piece and a musical. The Shakespearean pieces were presented by Hillel Academy and a joint production from Kingston College and The Queen's High School. The Kingston College and Queen's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet earned the trophy for Best Actor (Sheldon Shepherd). The William Knibb production of Brathwaite's Odale's Choice earned the Best Supporting Actress Award (Tanya Levy).
Cooke pointed out that the adjudicators are really commentators, which is why they speak at length on the strengths and weaknesses of each piece after it has been performed. He argued that the festival attempts to encourage all participants by giving prizes for acting to two students from each school. These students are awarded separately from those who receive the Best Acting prizes.
Students awarded were : Sheri Ann Bartley and Gregory Green (Ardenne); Kaylia Williams (Queens); Christopher Gordon (Kingston College); Danville Blake and Patrice Anderson (William Knibb), Dane Campbell and Lamore Brian (Excelsior); So-Shawn Johnson and Allan Spencer (Tivoli); Marlon Samuda and Tiffany Reid (Hillel); Keida Gale Duffus and Christopher Martin (St. Jago).
In addition to the special acting prizes, the other awards for this year's festival were spread across the schools. Tivoli took home the trophy for Best Set, while Excelsior earned Best Original Play. Ardenne earned the Best Actress trophy (Lisa Dunkley).
