A Barbadian/British theatre company, creating an international environment for local and British professionals, will stage its fourth production in Barbados next month.
The Gale Theatre Of Barbados And London will present The Lover, Pinter And The Piano for its 2012 season from April 14 at Frank Collymore Hall.
“This short play is stylish, sexy, unsettling and funny. As a piece of theatre, it’s as compelling today as when first performed nearly 50 years ago,” said producer Melissa Simmonds.
The evening of theatre and musical entertainment is directed by Rob Leyshon, who is a senior lecturer in drama at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and has staged various plays, including Pantomime – a retelling of Derek Walcott’s Robinson Crusoe.
The Lover, Pinter And The Piano is in three stages.
The Lover, Harold Pinter’s intriguing one-act comedy, is being re-imagined for the production in a modern Caribbean setting.
In it, a sophisticated couple play games to spice up their marriage.
Tensions, however, grow between them and the polished façade of their relationship starts to crack.
The Lover will be followed by a short celebration of Pinter’s poetry. Pinter was a Nobel Prize-winning playwright who regularly visited Barbados.
The cast includes Howard Antony (British/Barbadian) and Endy McKay (British), and introduces Angelo Lascelles (Barbadian). Also Patrick Foster (Barbadian) and Caroline Gardiner (British living in Barbados) feature.
Pinter’s poetry will be followed by twice award-winning jazz singer and pianist Miss Liane Carroll arriving directly from Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London and performing the Great American Songbook with special Barbadian guests, including Ebe Gilkes and songstress Carole George.
Simmonds, who is a strong supporter of the development of theatrical talent said: “One of the main aims of staging this production each year is to encourage young Barbadian talent with a particular gift for acting.
“We seek it out through forums such as the National Independence Of Creative Arts, the Barbados Community College and UWI, and assist where we can.”
Jherad Alleyne is one such talented example. After appearing in Gale Theatre’s production of Macbeth in 2008 at Frank Collymore Hall, he was offered a scholarship to summer school at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London from Gale – and help from Rotary Club South, Christian Roberts, and Ms J. Curbishley.
Alleyne is now completing final year at the Guildhall School, a top drama school in London.
He returns to Barbados to support Gale’s production.
“If Gale Theatre can inspire one young person like Jherad, surely we can do it again.
“This year we are introducing Angelo Lascelles in our production, and are hoping for similar success for him,” Simmonds added. (NSH/PR)
