A Treat for My Mother 8 returns, aiming to celebrate Guyana’s mothers on one unforgettable night.

WITH all that’s happening in our lives—bills, work, family, responsibilities—it can be easy to forget the people who helped us get here in the first place. That’s the space Simone Dowding aims to carve out each year with A Treat for My Mother, a heartfelt event designed to pause the noise, reflect, and honour the women who’ve raised, guided, and inspired us. This year marks the eighth edition, slated for May 11th at the National Cultural Centre, and aims to be a return to “the good old days.”

The evening is more than a tribute. It’s a blend of fashion, music, giveaways, and what Dowding calls “interactive theatre,” where audience members are just as much a part of the show as those on stage. Dowding, a respected actress with over three decades of experience, has used her talent and platform to shape the creative arts landscape in Guyana. “I am an awarded actress. I have two international awards—one from the Cultural Association of New York, 2019, for what was then over 35 years of contributions to the performing arts in Guyana, and a humanitarian award for my work with children,” she stated in her recent talk with Pepperpot Magazine.

That work with children takes form through her holiday workshops, where she teaches six different disciplines of drama, culminating in a grand performance that gives children a chance to shine on stage. It’s this commitment to nurturing new talent that characterises much of Dowding’s career. As she stated, “Every year I try to bring somebody new into the arts—not only on my show but also at the theatre. If I’m doing anything, I always bring in somebody new,” she said.

A Treat for My Mother began as a continuation of a previous tribute show by Winfield James. “I used to sing with the previous producer, and then he decided that he wasn’t going to do the show anymore, and then I said, ‘Okay, let me take it over,’” she explained. But rather than copy and paste, Dowding decided to make it her own. “Those days, it was a tribute to mothers by Winfield James, and I changed it to A Treat for My Mother. I did not want to mirror his concept, so I do a fashion display where I support young designers of Guyana, giving them a springboard to showcase their work and market their product,” she explained.

Fashion is only part of it. The event is known for its mix of music and style, creating an immersive experience. “It’s all this music blended with fashion,” she further added. “We have singers, some of Guyana’s best, singing all their music.” This year’s line-up includes a nostalgic nod to local music history. “Charmaine Blackmon will be doing her first song ever that she sang in Guyana, which is Raise Your Hand for Jah Jah,” Dowding said. There’s also fresh talent gracing the stage, as she added, “We have a youngster from the University of Guyana—he’s very, very talented with the saxophone—Damian Lane. He will be giving us a little jazz session.”

However, the excitement doesn’t stop there. Dowding has curated a number of fun, audience-driven moments, including the crowd favourite: The Best Dressed Mother in Purple. “As an actress, I firmly believe in interactive theatre—that is why I involve my audience. So the audience [members] are the judges for this segment,” she shared. Over the years, the segment has become so competitive, with numerous attendees dressing to impress. It has become a big part of the event because these women they step out,” she stated.

There will be plenty of surprises throughout the night. “I do have a gift for somebody who has been attending—they only missed one,” she revealed. “And we have a couple who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. This is something that we will bring them out and have them dance to a beautiful song in the theatre. That’s a surprise to my audience.” Dowding added. Giveaways will also be a highlight. This year’s partners include Melody Treats, providing the Mother’s Night Cake; Abbey’s Touch of Magic, offering gift cards for beauty services; NDS Furniture Store, with a furniture piece; and beauty baskets from Desinco Trading.

And like clockwork, the event begins on time, always. “The tickets are at the Cultural Centre and we go up 8 p.m. sharp. We don’t go a minute later because we want to respect the people who come and sit here,” Dowding shared. That consistency is part of what keeps audiences coming back. “People know the signature of my work,” Dowding said. “More than likely, you find people come in very early so that they can be here for eight, so they can enjoy the entire production,” she added.

At the core of this year’s production is a longing for something many have forgotten: joy. “I want to take them back to the days when they used to really have fun,” Dowding shared. “The mature people in our country—we’re not taught to still enjoy our lives. People think that when we get to a certain age, we should stay home, take care of our children, cook so our children can come home and eat—and not dress up and go out,” Dowding stated.

With A Treat for My Mother 8, Dowding is gently urging the community to rewrite that narrative—to remember joy, to celebrate legacy, and to dress up and step out again. “I’m hoping that when they come, they can go back with a taste on their tongues, remembering the days, enjoying the show and looking forward to coming again next year,” she shared. Tickets are currently available at the National Cultural Centre, so feel free to get tickets for tonight’s A Treat for My Mother 8 and reminisce about the good old days.