The Theatre Arts School’s Association (TASA), in collaboration with the Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations, on May 17, staged the National Secondary School’s Drama Festival at the Ti Rocher Multipurpose Centre. The festival served as a local round of the drama festival, in order to choose an island representative for the Caribbean Secondary School’s Drama Festival slated for November 2019.

Participating schools included the Vide Bouteille Secondary School (VBSS) performing “Bouwik Waldo”, the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS) performing “Doing it for Kenna” by Travis Weekes, the Micoud Secondary School (MSS) performing “Good Morning Miss Milllie” by Alwin Bully; and St. Joseph’s Convent Secondary School (SJC) performing “Culture Shock”.

On hand to judge the competition were Valerie Regis, a theatre arts teacher with 37 years of experience in performing in local and regional theatre; and Brenda Wilson, an alumnus of the London School of Contemporary Dance who is currently the Assistant Director in the
Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Human Services, Local Government and Empowerment.

The day-long festival saw St. Joseph’s Convent Secondary School emerging as the overall winner for “Best Ensemble Cast” for its presentation of ‘Culture Shock’ directed by Ms. Shernel Justin, Theatre Arts Teacher. The play follows the conflict which the Masquerade action figures in Dolly’s Toy Store are facing while they sit on the dusty shelves. The shopkeeper is having a hard time running the store and contemplates closing the business. He expresses his desire to burn down all the masquerade dolls except two. The masquerade dolls overhear his plans and begin to panic. They then hold a meeting to discuss the unfortunate occurrence and how they will deal with this new conflict.

The Convent’s performance won them other accolades including “Most Outstanding Director” Shernel Justin and “Most Outstanding Actress” Petal Brown. The prize of “Most Outstanding Actor went to Skai King from the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School; “Most Promising Actor” Naaj Serieux from the Micoud Secondary School; and “Most Promising Actress” Neeva Fanus from the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School.

With a representative for Saint Lucia chosen, the SJC contingent begins preparations for the 2019 Caribbean Secondary School’s Drama Festival, to which Saint Lucia will play host. The Festival is now into its 28th year after having been conceptualized by Icil Phillips (Barbados) and Victor Edwards (Trinidad and Tobago) at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine, at an Arts Conference. Saint Lucia will be hosting the festival for a second time following a previous hosting in 2007.

The Theatre Arts School’s Association looks forward to once again collaborating with the Department of Education, students and its member schools to ensure a successful hosting of participants from across the region and staging of the Caribbean Secondary School’s Drama Festival.