Exploring Antigua & Barbuda’s Thriving Arts and Culture Scene

Over the years, Antigua & Barbuda’s up-and-coming performing arts scene has begun to build a reputation for itself with the emergence of community-led performance based events such as the long running, Expressions: Poetry In The Pub. This popular open-mic and visual arts night is known for nurturing local talent and offering an energising space for Antigua’s creative community. Expressions, currently takes place at the scenic Heavenly Java 2 Go coffee shop, located on the historic boardwalk of Redcliffe Quay.

Relatively new to the Antigua & Barbuda performing arts scene is Soothe a vibrant and dynamic neo­soul and spoken word event founded by local photographer Gemma Hazlewood. Soothe, now in its third year, merges spoken word and poetry in a jazz lounge atmosphere. Over the years Soothe has featured inspiring local and international talent such as musician Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel and the Kutting Edge Band, JustSoul, Khan Cordice, the Mason Brothers, Daina Barnes, Lyrical among others.

Recognizing the need to showcase local musicians and performers more regularly, Soothe has paved the way for events like Acoustic Nights - a free monthly event organized by P Social and Art.Culture.Antigua that takes place at the Soul n' Sip Lounge, located at Studio 79, in Dickenson Bay. Acoustic Nights is the perfect spot to discover Antigua’s undiscovered musical talent.

Antigua’s robust theatre scene has a long and lively history with established writers like Dorbrene O’Marde whose Harambee Open Air Theatre was considered one of the most influential groups in the 70’s and 80’s, alongside others like the Antigua Community Players known for its folk music productions. Productions in the vibrant theatre scene range from political commentry, to pantomime and folk-inspired cabaret.

Antigua boasts a number of well-known local playwrights such as Eleston Nambalumbu Nambalala Adams, and Barbara Arrindell whose stand out production of “Dreams…Faces…Reality” was first performed by the Optimist Club of St. John’s Youth Drama Group in 2001. Kanika Simpson-Davis is another playwright whose youth theatrical group Stage One, has come to be known for its loveable adaptations of popular tales like Cinderella, Snow White, and Anansi and Snake. Today, many Antiguan’s are familiar with the work of young playwrights like Owen Jackson - a writer and director with the National Youth Theatre, and Zahra Airall, whose work spans generations through Zee’s Youth Theatre, Honey Bee Theatre, Sugar Apple Theatre, and the recently established National Secondary Schools Drama Festival.

Airall alongside her partner Linisa George (another well-known writer and poet), are responsible for the well-loved local production of When a Woman Moans - an innovative and fresh new approach to ‘theatrical activism’. This locally inspired home-grown production was modelled on the internationally acclaimed Vagina Monologues first conceptualised by Tony Award winning playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler. In Antigua, the cast of When a Woman Moans includes many well-known Antiguan women writers, such as Dotsie Isaac Gellizeau, Joanne C. Hillhouse, Floree Williams, Marcella Andre, Brenda Lee Browne, D. Gisele Isaac and many more.

There has been a burst of new energy in the direction of filmmaking and screenwriting. Howard Allen and Mitzi Allen have been named some of the most prolific filmmakers in the Eastern Caribbean producing four feature films in ten years. In 2001 HAMA Films became the first indigenous company in the Eastern Caribbean to produce a feature length film with the release of The Sweetest Mango a romantic comedy, based on how the couple met and fell in love. Together the couple have gone on to produce and direct No Seed (2002), Diablesse (2005) and The Skin (2011).

Other up-and-coming talents include Alexis Andrews whose film Vanishing Sail was declared winner of the Caribbean Spirit Award for Best Overall Feature at the Caribbean Tales awards and People’s Choice for Best Documentary at the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival. Tameka Jarvis-George is another dynamic creative whose short film Dinner produced by Cinque Productions was honoured at the Jamaica Film Festival. Jarvis-George has also collaborated with award-winning cinematographer Shabier Kirchner who together with his father Bert Kirchner (the owner of Papa Zouk restaurant), has played an important role in establishing the Motion Picture Association of Antigua & Barbuda’s Film Festival.

Antigua’s ever expanding cultural repertoire also includes spaces such as the newly established Irie Fire Studio, a recording studio that produces high quality recordings by local musicians. Irie Fire seeks to foster Antigua & Barbuda’s untapped talent as well as offering international artistes the chance to record in a laid back, island-style environment.

Antigua & Barbuda is home to an incredible array of dancers and performers whose work is inspired by the island’s diverse influences. As one of Antigua’s longest running dance schools (it has been around for over 25 years), the Antigua Dance Academy, led by respected local talent Veronica Yearwood, is known for its focus on teaching and performing traditional forms of African and Afro-Caribbean dance which it describes as “our way of allowing for the continued expressions of our culture as a people.” The Antigua Dance Academy is a self-sustaining, non-profit organisation. They are also the masterminds behind a number of events including Antigua’s only annual Caribbean Folk Dance Festival, an annual show that takes place usually around July, and family events throughout the year such as “Bring Yuh Drum and Come” – said to celebrate the sound of the drum and movement of the feet.

The Shiva School of Dance is another driving force within the dance community. Founded in June 2003, by artistic director Tavia Hunte, this dance school is based at the University of the West Indies Open Campus on Factory Road in St. John's. The school offers a wide variety of dance disciplines ranging from modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, soca and Caribbean folk. Shiva’s school trains students from the age of 3 to women over 70 year’s of age. The school’s mantra is "creating unity through diversity". This signifies the appreciation of all cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and expressions of the art form and life lessons. Tavia Hunte believes that we are all here for each other and sees dance as a transformational art form that can address, change, assist or highlight issues in the community in a non-threatening manner, while promoting love and community spirit among the generations. Tavia describes the school as “being committed to ensuring that dance gains the love and respect needed to continue to educate and transform minds and bodies through this dynamic art form.”

As you will soon see, there is plenty to do across the island of Antigua & Barbuda with a creative community that strives to keep pushing the boundaries in new and innovative ways, as well as maintaining homage to our culture and our past. In Antigua, we say the beach is just the beginning, but we all know there is so much more to do and see in the in-between.

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