‘Grand Old Lady’ of theatre
The Ward being restored to former glory
FOR YET another Boxing Day, The Ward Theatre stands empty of the traditional eye-widening, heart-pounding festivities that usually come with the Pantomime. Facilitated by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, the theatre is in the midst of its restoration – though it was the hope that it would be curtains up for this Yuletide season. Nevertheless, many remain titillated at the forthcoming reality that the Grand Old Lady will soon, again, open her halls to host spectacles regarded as ‘triumphant’ across the international theatre community.
At a recent tour of The Ward, restored to a state that allows for free movement without the need for hard hats, visitors were reminded that world-renowned productions, particularly Broadway ones, once regarded a run at The Ward as an accomplishment. They were also reminded that the theatre was used for much more than plays – for political conferences, for festival competitions, and just as a cool place to hang out.
“The Boxing Day Pantomime was a thing that every Jamaican child and parent wanted to experience. I used to come here with my mom and siblings just to have the stage come alive for the Boxing Day Pantomime,”Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Alando Terrelonge said during the tour. Pleased with the project’s intent, he expressed thankfulness that a new generation can soon experience indigenous theatre there.
Deputy Mayor Winston Ennis had similar sentiments that expanded into the political.“I remember my first Jamaica Labour Party conference I did. It was at The Ward in the 1970s. But I also remember coming here as a child with my mother and my brother to watch shows and things like those. I enjoyed coming here, to be honest,”Ennis told The Gleaner.
He continued: “I’m proud to now be a part of this team that is trying to resurrect it and have it running for 2020. It’s a place where people used to meet and have all sorts of discussions. You’d be surprised the amount of discussion that took place here. As a young man in my 20s, I used to be here. I am looking forward to when it is fully in operation to come back and enjoy myself and bring my children and whoever here to enjoy it. Whatever it takes, we’re going to get it up and running.”
There were also former performers of the Ward stage who relished the anticipated reopening of a place that nurtured their sustained passionate pursuits. Professional singer Kimelia Isaacs sang on the stage for the first in a long time, a reminiscent item during the tour. She recalled her days performing in Jamaica Cultural Development Commission festivals from 1994 onwards. “I know what it’s like to perform here, and I’m really happy it’s coming back,” she said.
In company, too, was founder of Plié for the Arts and principal dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company Marisa Benain. As a former member of the Cathi Levy and the Little People Players, she spent nine years of her life performing at The Ward.“This is where I first performed as a dancer, so it means the world to me,” she said.