THE CULTURE AND HISTORY of Barbados does not only lie in our national dishes, folk songs and dances, our flag and traditional music, but hides itself in the forgotten buildings where our local artistes may have performed, where our founding fathers may have resided and where movies may have been shown or plays rendered for an intrigued audience.
The Empire Theatre, whose walls are littered with Barbados’ history, is one such building.
The Empire Theatre, not to be confused with the Plaza which stood on the opposite side of the road, stands proudly on Probyn Street at the edge of River Road, Bridgetown. Though defunct for many years, it is in an area of empowerment.
Just a hop and a skip away is Independence Square where speeches were made and celebrations held. To the theatre’s left, behind the market which is currently there, lies what was formally known as Golden Square, which was home of the gatherings that prompted the 1937 uprisings, led by Clement Payne. Such history, and yet she is left in ruins.
The Empire was built in 1922 and owned in the 1940s by the British Colonial Film Exchange Ltd. According to historian Morris Greenidge, it was not the first major theatre or cinema to be erected, as the first cinema was the Willa Mena Music Hall, built around the 1890s.
Another cinema was built around the 1920s at the site of the Radisson Aquatica hotel, followed by many others over the years such as the Bridgetown, Oistins and Barbarees Hill Plazas; The Olympic, The Roxy, The Globe and The Vista.
The Empire was a high-quality theatre where people of all ages and from all walks of life went to fill about 835 seats as they viewed plays or screen shows – whether it was karate movies for young “fellows”, romance for young lovers, Christian movies or plays for the godly, or an Indian show put on by international performers. Patrons would pay from 13 cents to 30 cents for their preferred and affordable comfort.
During the years that the doors of The Empire were open, its stage was a platform for many a local artiste to perform and share their talent. This was due to the unfortunate realisation that the theatre was unable to sustain itself with the proceeds from the vaudeville shows and screen shots, for which it was primarily opened.
Local writers such as Frank Collymore and Fredrick Millar wrote and directed plays which were performed in the theatre. Comedic acts and dances were viewed by the patrons who visited. Millar was a pastor who wrote religious plays showcased there. Greenidge also remembered going to see the Ten Commandments in 1951 as a child.
Local personalities such as Jackie Opel and Joe Tudor performed there as many other cinema theatres opened to international artistes like Brook Benton, giving a full show of their incredible talents. Here, the managing of such shows also intrigued people like Mark Williams and Al Gilkes for things to come.
Efforts to restore the building date back to 1997, as it has been on the minds of many to restore The Empire to her former glory. The theatre is believed to have been last operational in 1984.
Plans for renovation and rehabilitation of the theatre have been circulating since 2012. In 2013, Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley updated the media on the restoration project. The estimated cost of renovation was put at $10 million.
“When restored, the theatre will have a capacity of 290 people and will feature a craft brewery, which would manufacture Barbadian beer. It will also include a visitor centre,” the minister had said then.
“The theatre and craft brewery will function separately, with the theatre being placed at the disposal of the Government to be managed and controlled by the Ministry of Family, Sports and Culture, which will lease the building for 25 years.”
This was 2013. Luckily, no indication of when the process would begin was given and there has been no progress on the building to this day.
According to Beat Barbados, founder and CEO Jim McGowan has worked tirelessly to have the project moved forward to restore The Empire, transforming it into a restored centre for the performing arts (Kelly Jo, 2012).
In conclusion, the old Empire Theatre/cinema should not be left in such a state. Of course there is the issue of funding, but for years that building, which could help provide revenue, has been left unattended. It stands in Bridgetown, which in itself is an area of great significance.
Why are we so inattentive to areas of our culture that are part of our history? Have we not fully recognised the value of this piece of our heritage?
After being open for at least 50 years, this once “top-class” glorious theatre should be restored. Give her life and meaning once again because she has stood there patiently waiting all these years.
Let us press the green button, let the curtains rise upon our culture and our history. Let her be proud again. Let us make her our own.
Gabrielle Williams is a student in the Division of Fine Arts of the Barbados Community College.
