AN APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE leapt to their feet to applaud the cast and production team at the end of the gala night of the staging of Timothy Callender’s It So Happen Suite at the Frank Collymore Hall Thursday.
The dramatisation of four of the late author’s short stories was an engaging portrait of Barbados, its foibles and social nuances, so ably captured and expressed by Callender in his works.
The Frank Collymore Hall kicked off year-long celebrations of its 25th anniversary with the play.
There was a respectable turnout at the gala night, with Callender’s Widow Lorna and his son Okolo among the audience.
Manager of the Hall Fran Wickham said the production which is being staged in partnership with the new Barbadian production company Diasporic Arts Productions, was an important performance for Barbados.
She said it provided an opportunity to engage the best of Barbados’ creative minds, and to make a contribution to the quality of performances on the island.
Founder of Diasporic Productions, Barbadian actress Alison Sealy-Smith said The It So Happen suite had been selected as the work for the company’s debut because of the strength of Timothy Callender’s work and its tribute to Barbados’ rich cultural history.
The production is adapted from four of Callender’s short stories. The all-Barbadian cast is directed by young theatre professional Ayesha Gibson-Gill.
The play continues at the Frank Collymore Hall tonight and tomorrow night. (GC)
