Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Prospero (left) gives Ariel instructions, as the spirits keep watch in 'A Tempest' at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative & Performing Arts, in May.- Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

This is the second of four articles on the state of the Jamaican theatre. It is hoped that by focusing the spotlight on this branch of the performing arts it initiates discussions that will produce positive actions.

Theatre buildings provide an unmistakable index and clearly visible statistic of dramatic development in a community; their quantity, sizes, locations and designs bear silent and impeachable witness.

Henry Fowler

As early as 1682, Jamaica boasted her first theatre building in Kingston. The building of a theatre is a clear indication of a country's commitment to establishing a theatre community.

Today Kingston remains the Mecca of Jamaican theatre. It continues to be the home of at least four intimate-size theatres - the Little Theatre, The Sir Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts and the Ward Theatre. But has modern Jamaican theatre continue to reflect the commitment of her past?

Kenny Salmon, head of Excelsior Community College's Department of the Performing Arts, observed that "there is a lack of adequate theatre space". With only two available, The Little Theatre and Sir Philip Sherlock Centre, where will students (studying theatre) get their practice?"

out of budget

It is believed that most of the intimate spaces are primarily owned by the producers of commercial theatre. With their plays running for long periods, non-profit theatre producers especially have no place to mount their productions. The available spaces, such as the Ward Theatre (now out of function) and the Little Theatre - if available - are out of their budget.

Lenford Salmon, administrative director of Jambiz, owner of Centerstage Theatre, agrees that there is a shortage of theatre space, citing the loss of Barn Theatre and New Kingston Theatre. As such, in order to guarantee a space for their productions, his theatre company has made the necessary provision.

space is available

He also disclaims the view that a company such as Jambiz does not make its theatre space available for non-company productions. "Come the first and second week in May and the weekend of the May 23, 2008, Centerstage became available to others," he explained.

Likewise, the Pantry Playhouse is often available to other theatre groups.

Eugene Williams, director of the School of Drama, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, also pointed to the non-availability of space. However all of the commercial stages, in his view, are virtual television sets, with little possibility for imaginative staging. For the most part they seem to encourage the transfer of the 'sitcom' and 'soap opera' models complete, with the ever-present living room couch.

But what about theatre space in the rest of Jamaica? "There is a shortage," said Nadine Little, drama teacher at Four Paths Primary and Junior High in Clarendon. Delores Ricketts, head of the Department of the Performing Arts at Edwin Allen Comprehensive High School, sees the lack of sponsorship as the main problem affecting the development of theatre in general in rural Jamaica.

This lack of theatre space in rural Jamaica has resulted in some school halls or auditoriums and hotel ballrooms being used by producers when their productions leave the sanctuary of their homes in Kingston for road shows. But how practical are these venues for set changes and lighting?

appropriate equipment

Kenny Salmon has noted that the theatres in Kingston are not technologically advanced. If the formal theatre spaces are not technologically advanced, then what about these informal venues? These schools are not equipped with the appropriate lighting equipment. How significant is it to have the appropriate lighting for a stage? The following list of the primary functions of lighting is self explanatory.

Lighting is for illumination - to see what is happening onstage; for focus - directs the audience; creates mood; projects scenery, and is for composition - shows only the areas that the designers want the audience to see. Can the basic lights found in the venue schools achieve all the above?

regional theatres

So what steps should be taken to address this problem? One recommendation is that regional theatres be set up by the Government of Jamaica, one in each county, and that the Government should build a theatre that will not only provide a space for theatre students to practise their craft, but allow non-profit theatre groups to contribute to the development of Jamaican theatre.

And the Government seems to agree. In the Jamaica Labour Party Manifesto 2007, there are plans to "construct a state-of-the-art concert hall, (and) establish smaller performing arts centres strategically located across the island to facilitate stage productions".

Could this be the solution? What say you? You keep the conversation going, until next week when the topic shifts to the status of the Jamaican actors and actresses.

Quatty (left) basks in the attention from Pearle in 'River Bottom', at the Centerstage Theatre in January.