11-year-old wins Cacique

Pollard became the youngest actor to be nominated for an award and the youngest to win a Cacique.

President of the National Drama Association of TT (NDATT), Joel Greaves, said Pollard’s accomplishment was testimony that the local theatre industry is alive, well and in good hands.

But on a more sombre note, Greaves lamented that the industry was in dire need of a financial boost and if the performing arts is to take its rightful place in the cultural fabric of society, both the public and private sectors must render assistance.

“We have the most vibrant drama fraternity in the Caribbean. Yet, we have an issue when it comes to funding the arts in Trinidad and Tobago. There needs to be more appreciation for the arts if we are to realise our vision. It is sad because the arts is a link to who we are as a people and our culture. It is where we came from and our values...it is sad that the theatre fraternity should suffer from a lack of funding,” Greaves said.

Following last year’s hiatus, this year’s awards were presented for the period 2007 and 2008.

The Centre for The UWI Festival Arts Chorale, picked up awards for the 2007 Broadway Musical Oliver including awards for Outstanding Achievement in Set Design; Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role; Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design and Pollard’s award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

UWI Festival Arts Chorale also picked up an award for Outstanding Achievement in Set Design for the 2008 musical, The Sound of Music.

The 2008 production, Three Women, featuring actors Ann Louise Tam, Belinda Barnes and Eunice Alleyne and directed by Mervyn de Goeas picked up four awards in the categories, Outstanding Achievement in Directing, Outstanding Dramatic Production, Outstanding Production and Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Original Script).

Other special awards included the NDATT Caribbean Award 2007 /2008, to Adrian Augier of St Lucia and Trevor Rhone of Jamaica respectively. The NDATT Vanguard Award was presented to Raymond Choo Kong and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Shirley “Beulah” King and Cynthia Lee Mack.

The Cacique Award winners

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design

2007 - Oliver – Kwynn Johnson

2008 - The Sound of Music – Gillian Creese and Jennifer Mofford-Joab.

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting and design

2007 - Shine – Curtis Bachan

2008 - Tributes – Celia Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

2007 - I Love You Til Someone Better Comes Along – Richard Ragoobarsingh

2008 - One of Our Sons is Missing – Giselle E. Langton

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design

2007 - Oliver – Paulette Alfred

2008 - The Sound of Music – Paulette Alfred

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

2007 - Kendra Sylvester – Oliver

2008 - Abigail henry – Bitter Cassava

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

2007 - Dimitri Pollard – Oliver

2008 - Mohammed Muwakil – Bitter Cassava

Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Original Script)

2007 - Shine Curtis Bachan

2008 - 3 Women – Ann Louise Tam, Belinda Barnes and Eunice Alleyne

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

2007 - Cecilia Salazar – Shine

2008 - Hannah Howard – The Sound of Music

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

2007 - Raymond Choo Kong – Politically Incorrect

2008 - Arnold Goindhan – Joy and Fire

Outstanding Achievement in Directing

2007 - Debra Boucaud-Mason for I Love You Till Someone Better Comes Along

2008 - Mervyn de Goeas – 3 Women

Outstanding Comedic Production

2007 - I Love You Till Someone Better Comes Along – RS Production

2008 - We Like it So – Raymond Choo Kong Productions

Outstanding Dramatic Production

2007 - Oliver

2008 - 3 Women – The Players Workshop

Outstanding Production

2007 - Oliver

2008 - 3 Women