Creative Theatre Movement Showcases East Bank children
Stabroek News
May 19, 2002
She started in local theatre at the age of six, and today, three-time best actress winner, Mignon Lowe, knows just how to bring out the talent of Guyana's youths.
Next Sunday at the Diamond Community Ground, the gifted and well-rounded veteran actress will showcase the children of the East Bank Demerara as they display fashions, perform dances and dramatic poetry, as well as drama. It's the seventh anniversary of the Creative Theatre Movement (CTM), which Lowe launched in 1995, at the Theatre Guild, Georgetown.
The Independence Day show, dubbed `Children's Showtime 2002', is being held in association with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council and is scheduled to begin at 16:00 hrs. Twenty young stars, between the ages of four and 16 years, will perform pieces directed by Lowe and dances choreographed by the actress and Anthony Hawker, a model and dancer.
Patrons can expect outstanding performances from Christine Broomes, who was adjudged Best Dancer 1999, 2000 and 2001 in Chutney, Dance Hall and modern dance categories. Maurisa James, Lisa Khan, Thaliya Dublin, Neelam Persaud, Dominque Benjamin, Allana Andries, Bibi Khan, Jennel Rodney, Zadita Narine, Onica Lewis, Dwayne Bumbury, Padmini Lackiram, Mona Sheriff, Stacy Williams, Tameiha Harris, Lateshia Simon, Nikisha Dick and the youngest rising stars - Rebecca Ishmael and Dominique Patoir are also set to thrill.
Tickets for adults will cost $300, while teenagers are expected to pay $100. Child-ren under the age of 12 will enter free.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Lowe ex-plained that CTM is a nonprofit organisation she founded in an effort to teach young children and teenagers aspects of dance, drama, poetry and fashion, storytelling and reading.
"The aim of CTM is to give children the opportunity of having the right to learn and respect themselves and use culture to entertain, educate and to build hope for the future," the actress stated. She said all the funds from all the shows they have done usually went towards acquiring costumes for the children, getting books for those who attend school, and, also, helping the less fortunate members of the group to acquire various items for classes. She stressed that all the productions have been written and choreographed by Guyanese. The fashion, too, has been designed by local people, with the aim of instilling pride in the young people of the country and, also, developing a stronger cultural spirit in Guyana.
With this in mind, Lowe has the young Broomes as an instructor, as well as, Kathlene Sonaram, who also designs and sews the costumes for the group.
Lowe, a graduate of Mass Communication, specialising in drama, is known for her role in Guyana's first film comedy, If Wishes Were Horses. Some of her other memorable productions, performed on stage at the National Cultural Centre, include Couvade, Who Killed Mr Willis?, Jezebel, Benjie Darling and All For De Money.