'Letters for Emancipendence' opens at Little Little Theatre

Fred W Kennedy, author of Daddy Sharpe - A narrative of the life and adventures of Samuel Sharpe: A West Indian slave, written by himself 1832, has given permission to the Little Theatre Movement (LTM) National Pantomime Company to use an extract from the book in their new heritage production, Letters for Emancipendence, which opens at the Little-Little Theatre next Sunday. The play will also run on Independence Day, Monday.

The pantomime company's heritage productions were introduced in 1997 with Augus Mawnin created to celebrate the return of August 1 to the calendar of national observances.

Augus Mawnin gained much popularity and was performed across the island and in the Diaspora in the United States and Canada for 12 years.

Since then, other productions have been introduced into what the company now regards as its heritage series.

This year's production, Letters for Emancipendence, features dramatised events in the lives of National Heroes - Nanny, Sam Sharpe, George William Gordon, Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey, Alexander Bustamante and Norman Washington Manley.

The production is coordinated by Barbara Gloudon, who developed the script from archival records and the writings of various authors who have highlighted aspects of the lives of the heroes, through factual accounts or fiction.

Members of the company make up the cast. Many of them are familiar to audiences through the National Pantomime annual production which attracts large family audiences to the Little Theatre.

Letters for Emancipendence is a blend of songs, music, movement and dialogue. The LTM has commended Kennedy for his generosity in permitting use of the excerpt from the Daddy Sharpe book, as also publishers, Ian Randle for its cooperation.

According to the producers, "We commend the production to everyone as a pleasurable way of getting to know more about Jamaica's heroes."

The Daddy Sharp text is a very easy-read, blending fiction with fact. Kevin Halstead, the actor, who will be in the role of Daddy Sharpe, regards his role as a "very enlightening" task.

Beside the dramatic presentation, there will be the staging of an exhibition of artifacts of slavery, and the way to Independence. Thanks to the cooperation of the Museums Division of the Institute of Jamaica. There will also be the customary 'nyammings' of some favourite hometown foods. The opening event begins at 4 p.m. with an introduction by Ambassador Burchell Whiteman.

Tickets are $600 for adults and $400 for children.