Toussaint Smith, Staff Reporter
FILE -
Basil Dawkins raises the award for 'A Gift for Mom', which earned four Actor Boy awards at the last event. The play was awarded 'Best New Jamaican Play', 'Best Drama', 'Best Actor' (Buddy Pouyat) and 'Best Production'.
PLAYWRIGHT BASIL Dawkins is one of 13 persons who will receive a Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica next week. The awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, October 13, at the Institute of Jamaica on East Street in downtown Kingston.
According to a release issued by the Institute of Jamaica, Mr. Dawkins is to receive a bronze Musgrave Medal in recognition of his tremendous talent and achievements as a playwright.
Basil Dawkins is delighted. "It's a great honour, I cannot help but being elated... With some amount of humidity I
collect this award recognising the contribution of all the
people who have assisted me in my development today and I dedicate it to them and hope I continue to further develop my craft," he told The Gleaner.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Mr. Dawkins is known for earlier plays such as Flat Mate (1980), Couples (1984) and Champagne and Sky Juice (1986). More of his recent productions include A Gift for Mom (2003), No Dirty Money (2002) and the comedy What the Hell is Happening to us Dear?
His skillful techniques for both comedies and dramas have helped earn his productions local and international awards. At the International Theatre Institute, (Jamaican Chapter) Actor Boy awards 2004, A Gift for Mom landed several awards. These included 'Best Production', 'Best New Jamaican Play', 'Best Drama' and 'Best Director' (Buddy Pouyat). In the Jamaica creative writing competition, held in 2002, his production No Dirty Money copped silver.
Mr. Dawkins told The Gleaner he is currently working on a new production. "I'm working on a production to open on December 27, entitled No Disrespect and it's a suspense, action thriller, starring Charles Hyatt, Volier Johnson and directed by Robin Baston," he said.
The majority of Dawkins' plays have been produced and staged by both professional and amateur companies in the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, the Cayman Islands, Belize, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Trinidad the release from the institute stated.
The Musgrave Medal was first awarded in 1897 as a memorial to Sir Anthony Musgrave. As Governor of Jamaica, he founded the Institute of Jamaica in 1879. After his death in 1888, the Board of governors of the Institute of Jamaica authorised a medal bearing his name to be awarded annually.
