Winston ‘Bello’ Bell – quintessential multi-creative

THE EDITOR, Madam:

When Winston Alexander Bell, aka ‘Bello’, came to the Jamaica School of Drama at the then Cultural Training Centre in 1978, he was already a standout performing artist, having won multiple JCDC awards in speech and drama as a representative of Camperdown High School.

He became a beloved member of the Edna Manley College family, who, upon graduating in 1981, was among the group of outstanding students invited to form the school’s Graduate Theatre Company.

As a young thespian, he earned the earnest respect of his peers and received high commendation from lecturers for his genuinely compassionate personality and admirable work ethic. His talent shone on the stages of the school in productions such as Dario Fo’s Accident Death of an Anarchist, Dennis Scott’s Dog, Rawle Gibbon’s Shepherd, C.L.R. James’ The Black Jacobins, and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

He later went on to woo audiences locally and internationally, gaining many admirers and evoking rave reviews for memorable, award-winning performances in countless productions, including Laugh Jamaica, LTM Pantomime’s Bruckins directed by Carol Lawes, and Louis Marriott’s Bedward. He also appeared in films like Third World Cop, One Love, Glory to Gloriana, and Ghetto’s Life.

In 1985, Bell was preparing to perform music and poetry in tandem with his lifelong friend and fellow graduate Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis, on the opening ceremony for the Caribbean Popular Theatre Exchange at the School of Drama, but, on the suggestion of their mentor/colleague Honor Ford-Smith, they switched their content and created a music-infused comedic skit called Dis a Culture. That was the beginning of what became the Bello & Blakka comedy duo.

Bell was the quintessential multi-creative. A consistently excellent singer, actor, writer stand-up comedian and educator, he was also a competent instrumentalist, equally adept at playing drums, guitar, and piano. He will be sadly missed by the theatre fraternity and his Edna Manley College family.

Dorrett Campbell

Interim Principal

Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts