Glimpse of barrack yard life at Camboulay re-enactment

Springer describes the re-enactment as one which will focus heavily on barrack yard life in the historical period. According to Springer, there will also be great emphasis on various traditional characters and stick fighters (Bois men).

“There will be the re-enactment of the battle but people will also get a peak into barrack yard life of that era. We will bring to life Cariso Jane as a jammette woman of that period. These fictionalised characters are based on that period to give an idea of life in the barrack yard at the time,” Springer explained.

She continued, “There is a very ritual element to the script; for instance we have the bois men who will be chanting to their ancestors with sacred chants. The baby doll character will also come to life with a plaintive cry to get her child (taken care of).”

Springer recognised the contribution of John Cupid, Norvan Fullerton and Tony Hall, who have contributed their efforts to creating the camboulay into the production it is today. All I did was script it to create a dramatic production; it now has a main cast to add to the original re-enactment,” Springer said.

She said this country owes the celebration of Carnival to the people of East Dry River and environs. She said it was those people who stood up for their right to stage their cultural expressions.

“I have to congratulate the NCC for doing this. This country owes this great Carnival that we share with the rest of the world to the East Dry River because those riots and the subsequent commission of enquiry ensured that the Camboulay was allowed to remain; so it is a very significant aspect of our culture. It is done to remind the country that it is because of the warrior-hood of the bois man and the bois woman that we have Carnival,” Springer said.

The production will utilise the talents of various prominent young actors in this country including students from the University of the West Indies Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, Belmont Free Town and Chibale Drumming Ensemble; and the Malik Folk Performers.