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PARTICIPANTS of the National Drama Festival (NDF) 2012 were yesterday awarded cash incentives for their outstanding performance in various categories of the festival. This took place in the conference room of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street in Georgetown. Speaking at the event, Director of the NDF, Godfrey Naughton, said that while there’s much more work to be done, last year’s festival was a very successful one, with great performances, scripts, and new topics.
He noted that as promised at the launch of the festival on June 8, 2012, these participants were awarded cash prizes.
“We are hoping that these incentives inspire you t o even greater things this year,” he told them.
According to him, the NDF will be launched earlier this year, and as such there will be a long gestation period in which much training will be done.
He related that this training will be done through the National School of Drama and there will be other engagements from time to time, so that persons will be better equipped for this New Year, as compared to last year.
The festival will be expanded and regionalized.
Speaking in the absence of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Permanent Secretary Alfred King said that the festival is here to stay, and commended the working committee for a job well done
He noted that last year’s festival by far exceeded the expectations of the ministry, as while they expected it to grow from the previous year, they didn’t expect the magnitude.
According to him, over 45 plays were entered into the competition, and some 38 were staged, which was a tremendous achievement.
King added that the festival was a massive undertaking, and the ministry believes that they were able to put the best team together, in terms of judges, to bring some amount of respectability to the objective nature of evaluating the presentations.
He said when it comes to people who were directly involved, there were more than 500 young persons who had a chance to be on stage, and he commended their performance.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Digicel, the partner and sponsor for the festival, Marketing Manager Jacqueline James asserted that Digicel is there to stay, and the company is dedicated to youth and talent and development of the country and the community at large.
“We are here to ensure that our young people have a ground to showcase their talent, all the creativity and skills that they have,” she said.
She added that Digicel will always be proud to be a part of the Guyanese culture, and support Guyanese youths and their talent, sports, arts and creativity.
Participants received cheques to the total value of $5,075,000 for their outstanding performance in the 2012 festival. Those awarded include Sheron Taylor, who received $1,000,000 for her play “83 million Gees”, which was judged the Best Production of 2012, and Margaret Lawrence received, on behalf of Merundoi, a total of $1,100,000 for four plays.
The NDF 2012 was held in September-October at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.
The festival caters for the development of all the skills associated with writers, dramatists and producers, and it is a structured, national effort to promote and improve playwriting and every aspect of theatre production.
***Photos stored in graphics>drama presentation
DSC_0798- From left, Marketing Manager of Digicel Jacqueline James; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King, and Director of the NDF Godfrey Naughton .
DSC_0817- In photo are the participants of the NDF 2012 with their prizes. Also in photo are Director of the NDF Godfrey Naughton, Marketing Manager of Digicel Jacqueline James, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King
He noted that as promised at the launch of the festival on June 8, 2012, these participants were awarded cash prizes.
“We are hoping that these incentives inspire you t o even greater things this year,” he told them.
According to him, the NDF will be launched earlier this year, and as such there will be a long gestation period in which much training will be done.
He related that this training will be done through the National School of Drama and there will be other engagements from time to time, so that persons will be better equipped for this New Year, as compared to last year.
The festival will be expanded and regionalized.
Speaking in the absence of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Permanent Secretary Alfred King said that the festival is here to stay, and commended the working committee for a job well done
He noted that last year’s festival by far exceeded the expectations of the ministry, as while they expected it to grow from the previous year, they didn’t expect the magnitude.
According to him, over 45 plays were entered into the competition, and some 38 were staged, which was a tremendous achievement.
King added that the festival was a massive undertaking, and the ministry believes that they were able to put the best team together, in terms of judges, to bring some amount of respectability to the objective nature of evaluating the presentations.
He said when it comes to people who were directly involved, there were more than 500 young persons who had a chance to be on stage, and he commended their performance.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Digicel, the partner and sponsor for the festival, Marketing Manager Jacqueline James asserted that Digicel is there to stay, and the company is dedicated to youth and talent and development of the country and the community at large.
“We are here to ensure that our young people have a ground to showcase their talent, all the creativity and skills that they have,” she said.
She added that Digicel will always be proud to be a part of the Guyanese culture, and support Guyanese youths and their talent, sports, arts and creativity.
Participants received cheques to the total value of $5,075,000 for their outstanding performance in the 2012 festival. Those awarded include Sheron Taylor, who received $1,000,000 for her play “83 million Gees”, which was judged the Best Production of 2012, and Margaret Lawrence received, on behalf of Merundoi, a total of $1,100,000 for four plays.
The NDF 2012 was held in September-October at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.
The festival caters for the development of all the skills associated with writers, dramatists and producers, and it is a structured, national effort to promote and improve playwriting and every aspect of theatre production.
***Photos stored in graphics>drama presentation
DSC_0798- From left, Marketing Manager of Digicel Jacqueline James; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King, and Director of the NDF Godfrey Naughton .
DSC_0817- In photo are the participants of the NDF 2012 with their prizes. Also in photo are Director of the NDF Godfrey Naughton, Marketing Manager of Digicel Jacqueline James, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King
