‘All Aboard Fi Di Windy Rush’ for 2018 Pantomime
UNDOUBTEDLY ONE of the major news stories this year was the plight of the Windrush Generation — persons invited to the United Kingdom from the Caribbean, in particular, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados between 1948 and 1971.
They went on the invitation of the British government, which was facing labour shortages due to the destruction caused by World War II. The name ‘Windrush’ derives from the ship MV Empire Windrush, which was speculated to have transported over 500 Jamaicans to the UK. When immigration laws changed, persons found it challenging to prove why they should remain in the country.
“Based on this interest, we crafted a story about what it would have been like to make that decision to leave your country, and make your way to a place that was so very different, and it was felt that it would be an interesting challenge to go back in time where the cast, crew, and technical team can add
their bit of authenticity,” Playwright and Little Theatre Movement (LTM) chairman-producer Barbara Gloudon, playwright and told The Sunday Gleaner of this year’s Pantomime.
“We have focused the story on two sisters who decide to go to England and the experiences they have while zoning in on how that decision affected those who remained, in the lighthearted, fun, familyfriendly style that is The Pantomime,” Gloudon added.
Since the closing of the last pantomime production, Dapper Dan the Anansi Man, the LTM has been conducting research and collecting stories from documentaries and actual people who experienced the challenges associated with Windrush to create the script for All Aboard Fi Di Windy Rush.
Special attention was paid to the style of music used in the songs Gloudon said, “To reflect the time span that the story covers.”
“The Gleaner has also very generously supplied us with a newspaper mock-up which will be used in one of the scenes,” she added.
Aided by musical composers Jermaine ‘Ziggy’ Gordon and Calvin ‘Bubbles’ Cameron as well as Fab 5’s Grub Cooper, this year’s pantomime production has worked to revive songs done in previous years but have the correct theme.
Jamaica’s legendary folklorist Louise Bennett-Coverley will also be honoured through the use of her poem ‘Colonisation in Reverse’ (with the permission of her estate) in the form of a song that opens the show.
“She (Louise Bennett-Coverley), is a major force and influence of the Pantomime, and even now, we try to find ways to honour her memory as well as that of Ranny Williams,” said Gloudon. “With the inclusion of Miss Lou and Maas Ran, they worked in more Jamaican influences, using folk stories and songs that reflected the ways of our people. The LTM is dedicated to keeping that part of the tradition alive.”
To bring the set of All Aboard Fi Di Windy Rush alive, the theatre has utilised artists and musicians as a way of not only exposing as many persons as possible, but also to support the creative industry — as is done each year.
This year’s cast also has a mix of newcomers and familiar faces including core members like Kevin Halstead, who will be doing his 20th production, in addition to Faith Bucknor and Ray Jarrett.