-in honour of contribution to local drama
GUYANESE award-winning playwright, Sheik Sadeek will on Saturday (November 13) be honoured by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) for his contribution to local drama. The IAC is set to honour Sadeek by presenting some of his works to the Guyanese public as it continues to use drama as a tool to foster and develop the Indian Culture.
In so doing, the IAC will present ‘Namaste’ at the National Cultural Centre, commencing at 19:00h.
The presentation is a combination of three one-act plays written by Sadeek, namely: ‘Black Bush’, ‘Goodbye Corentyne’ and ‘Namaste’. These plays are all set in colonial times, and reflect in many ways the struggles of people as they try to carve a niche for themselves. It captures sacrifices, family relations, and the will to make their situation better.
In ‘Namaste’ for instance, a young educated girl is forced to abandon her aspirations to care for her sick mother. Despite having a father, she has no choice, since his first love is alcohol. While an opportunity presents itself for her personal advancement, circumstances create many dilemmas. This gripping tale has many pertinent messages that are very relevant today.
‘Black Bush’, meanwhile, examines the challenges the first settlers to that area faced. These challenges overwhelmed a mother who felt that life could have been easier elsewhere. This feeling of an easier life may have been in part due to the influence of a friend. Nevertheless, the spirit of the father to provide a better life for his family was never daunted. He endured and took risks in this regard. Today, thousands have made Black Bush, a village on the Corentyne Coast, their home, and the area is critical to making Guyana self-sufficient in food.
‘Goodbye Corentyne’ examines the phenomenon of ‘town girl’ marrying ‘country boy’. It can be taken further to say ‘educated’ marrying the ‘uneducated’. These situations place enormous strain on the marriage. While the strains are obvious, maturity and wisdom play important roles. What would it take for such a union to be kept intact? Alcoholism crept into the fray further complicating a fragile situation. Sacrifices are needed. Did it happen?
These plays, while giving a glimpse of the colonial past, in many ways examine situations that are prevalent in today’s world.
The IAC says that in honouring Sadeek, it hopes that the many salient messages contained within the plays will provide opportunities for introspection, with the expectation that changes, where necessary, can be implemented.
The cast of ‘Namaste’ includes Michael Ignatius, Rajan Tiwari, Derek Gomes, Sherry Ann Dyal, Rushella Edmondson, Kerrimaria and Terri Phang, Sonia Yarde, Romel Edmondson, Keisha Narine, Narda Mohamed, Yusuf Ali and Chris Gopaul.
The production is directed by Neaz Subhan, who, in the past, has directed ‘Tulsidas’, ‘Dosti’, ‘Kanyadaan’ and ‘Bhagban’.