'For black boys ... ' coming to Jamaica School of Drama
Published:Thursday | February 4, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Thomas
Sankofa Arts and Facilitation presents the production 'For black boys who have considered homicide when the streets were too much' on Saturday at the Dennis Scott Studio Theatre, Jamaica School of Drama. Proceeds from the show will be donated to Eve for Life, a non-governmental organisation supporting women and children living with HIV.
'For black boys who have considered homicide when the streets were too much' is an unabashed and powerful exploration of the external/internal, public/private, political/personal questions and trials of being a black man. Written by Keith Antar Mason and directed by Fabian Thomas, 'For black boys ... ' utilises poetry and the spoken word to examine and depict the situations, and scenarios performed by a cast of five men. It is a journey that travels through some of the harsh realities of our time, as it moves towards healing and transformation.
Jamaican interpretations
For the Jamaican premiere, Thomas has included Jamaican interpretations of some of the sections and has also included movement and music as parts of the tapestry of the piece.
Keith Antar Mason is a poet/performance artist/playwright based in the Los Angeles area and the artistic director of the Hittite Empire - a performance group whose work centres on the lives of black men and the contradictions they face living in the United States of America (USA). Keith and the members of Hittite Empire dedicate a large part of their artistic efforts to working among youth, and developing progressive theatre companies in the poor neighbourhoods of major cities throughout the USA.
The cast is comprised of André Morris (Season Rice, A Suh It Go, POSITIVE and Voices), Brian Johnson (Maskarade, Mansong, POSITIVE, Freedom Fi Who? and Voices), Rayon McLean (Mansong, Freedom Fi Who?, 11/9 and Voices), Darion Palmer (Voices), Damian 'DJ' Shaw (Dreamgirls) and Adrian Wanliss from L'ACADCO.
This special performance is for $2,500 and will aid five boys living with or affected by HIV to stay in school. The show is not recommended for children under 16 years old.