Multi-talented Mairoon Ali

However, her involvement in local theatre was just one of many activities at which she excelled. A teacher for several decades, Mairoon, 55, had recently retired as a History teacher at Holy Name Convent after 34 years in the service.

In the early 1990s she made her first foray into the media as an on-air personality with 96.1 FM, then moved on to Power 102 FM where she co-hosted a popular programme with Tony Lee and Dale Enoch.

In recent years Mairoon had become involved in theatre production through HaHaHa Productions in partnership with fellow actresses Nikki Crosby and Penelope Spencer. She had also recently launched a career on television as host of Gayelle TV’s morning show.

Mairoon made her stage debut in 1989 in Earl Lovelace’s Wine of Astonishment and at the peak of her theatrical career was doing up to three shows a day, as well as making television appearances and doing radio commercials.

Her most memorable performances included Raymond Choo Kong Productions’ We Like It So! and more recently The Best Little Whorehouse in Guapo. Mairoon will also be remembered for her performance in Christopher Rodriguez’s Clear Water and her role in the local soap opera Westwood Park.

She was one of the stars of the Maljo Calypso/Comedy Tent where she functioned as a comedienne and announcer.

In a demonstration of her versatility and creativity, Mairoon co-wrote the hit play The Vagina Dialogues with Penelope Spencer, Conrad Parris and Pattianne Ali.

Yesterday, as last rites were held for the beloved theatre personality at Queen’s Hall, followed by cremation at the St James Cinerary, Mairoon’s colleagues recalled the woman who had dominated the local stage for so many years.

Gayelle TV’s Errol Fabien, himself a well known comedian and actor, recalled: “Mairoon was a very sensitive person. Little things worried her. She was concerned about underprivileged kids and the state of local theatre.”

Fabien said Mairoon taught him a lot and he drew inspiration from her for his work on television and stage. He said her death is a big loss to him personally, as well as her family, the Gayelle family, the local theatre community and the public.

Close friend Nikki Crosby, remembered Mairoon’s love for theatre and teaching.

“Her ability to reach kids and tell a story is amazing. She used her gift of acting to reach kids and put them on the right track in life.”

Crosby recalled that Mairoon had recently been robbed of her wallet containing money and personal documents.

“I remember her calling me and crying and my telling her that life is so precious and at least they didn’t kill you for your wallet or anything like that. We talked a lot about life this week because she was so angry that she had to go and get everything renewed and I kept saying, girl, this is what life is. At least they didn’t stab you and kill you for your wallet.”

In a recent interview, the trio of Penelope, Nikki and Mairoon, who described themselves as the original PNM, said: “We are theatre practitioners; we act, teach and direct and at some point, you want to make money from the craft, the men making all the money. We, as women, say the men can’t make all the money.”

Their group, HaHaHa Productions, had done three plays in the last year, The Best Little Whorehouse in Guapo, Vagina Dialogues and Sex in De City.

Describing her own contribution to the production group, Mairoon had said: “I have a lot of time on my hands now, so I do all of the administrative work — send press releases, letters, follow ups — my house is like the secretariat. If we work our skills, we are a formidable team.” .

She had also been excited about her new career in television: “I am a firm believer that people learn more when they laugh, they are not even aware that they are learning. I will definitely be bringing that to Gayelle.”

At the time of her death, Mairoon had been writing a book of poetry, Mairoon’s Mind. It is not yet known whether it will be published.

Mairoon, who was originally from Belmont, was one of six children born to Ibitha and Lonsdale Bradshaw. She attended Tranquility Government Primary and St Francois Girls’ College before embarking on her long and successful teaching career at Holy Name Convent in Port-of-Spain.

The actress is survived by her daughter Aka Ali, son well known soca artiste Olatunji Yearwood and stepson Roland “Rembunction” Yearwood, a performing artiste, music producer and video director, as well as siblings Bilal Abdullah, Colleen DeGannes and Peter, Jennifer and Lonsdale Bradshaw.