TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Digicel has, for the fifth year, thrown its support behind the National Drama Festival; this one slated to begin on October 30, 2016A Digicel Guyana statement issued on Thursday has said that the Drama Festival, organised by Department of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Ministry of Education and the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, will see thousands of persons, including schoolchildren, participating.

“It gives us the opportunity to invest and maintain our mandate to foster youth and cultural development. We are once again pleased to be associated with, and look forward to, (the festival being held) since drama can be a positive way in which youths can express themselves while at the same time develop their passions,” said Digicel’s Sponsorship Executive Louanna Abrams.

Acting Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain, has thanked Digicel for its contribution to the Festival, and noted that the company’s decision to enhance the art speaks volumes.

The National Drama Festival will not be focused only on participants from Georgetown and surrounding locations, but is also geared as attracting persons from across the hinterland regions.

Boatswain has said that investments made by corporate Guyana are significant, and expressed hope that other companies would support the Festival in the future. The National Drama Festival has thus far seen approximately 50 persons from Regions One, Two, Nine and 10 expressing interest in participating.

Efforts are being made to ensure that all regions are involved in this year’s Drama Festival. As such, there will be several outreaches across the country to heighten awareness on the Festival. Outreaches will also be held at St Cuthbert’s Mission and in New Amsterdam.

Entries for participation in the Drama Festival will be received up to October 21. Preliminaries are slated to start on October 30, and will end on November 12. The Schools’ finals will begin on November 14 and end on November 18 at the Theatre Guild, while the finals for the adult competition will run from November 19 to 27 at the National Cultural Centre.
Admission to any event is free of charge.