AFTER BEING CLOSED for 12 years, the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre, one of Barbados’ premier performing arts venues, reopened on Monday night as two plays were staged as part of CARIFESTA XIII.
Work began on refurbishing the historic theatre in Queen’s Park last November 1 and was completed just in time for the festival.
The theatre, well known for staging productions such as Laff-It-Off and Pampalam, closed in 2003, while the gallery had not been used since 2011.
Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley earlier this month said the estimated cost of the renovations was $6.9 million.
On Monday night, actress, Haitian playwright and director Djennie Laguerre took the audience on a journey to her country as she performed the humorous, reflective and realistic play titled Rendezvous Lakay. It was about two sisters’ journey to the country for their father’s funeral.
Before that, Quilt Performing Arts Company out of Jamaica did Re Ashore’d, telling the story of people displaced from Africa. (GBM)
