Once On This Island
A Family Musical

Based on the novel My Love, My Love by celebrated and award-winning Trinidadian novelist, Rosa Guy, Once On This Island tells the story of Ti-Moune, the poor peasant girl sent on a journey by the Gods to test the strength of love against the power of death.

A seemingly simple story, the play’s themes include colonialism and racism – societal and cultural issues that face us as a people on a daily basis. Relevant to these times, yet still highly entertaining, this is a feel-good project that will resonate with theatregoers far and wide.

The production features some of our most outstanding performers, including Stefan Williams (Marionettes Chorals, “Steel”), Stefan Simmons (“The Lion King”), Karla Gonzalves (Kassav), Renee Castle (“The Vagina Monologues”), Marsha Woodley (“Steel”) and Keino Swamber (“Beef, No Chicken”). It is directed by three-time Cacique Award winning director Mervyn de Goeas, and is produced by Mermade Theater and Charisse Parsons in collaboration with the Trinidad Guardian.

Once on this island opens on the 12th October and continues on the 13th 14th 15th October.

The tickets are priced at $200.00 and $150.00, children half price and 10% discount for the Patrons of Queen's Hall.

Trinidadian novelist Rosa Guy

Rosa Guy, was born in Trinidad and lives in New York. She is a novelist, short story writer, playwright and editor. She is the author of fifteen novels, including My Love, My Love from which the musical “Once On This Island” is adapted. Along with John Oliver Killens, she co-founded the Harlem Writer’s Guild. Her work has received the Coretta Scott King Award, The New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year citation, and the American Library Association’s Best Book Award.

Dance at the Hall

The Caribbean School of Dancing presents Fantasy in Dance 2006 at the Hall on 10th, 11th, 12th November. The show features a new ballet called The Emperor and the Nightingale‚ choreographed Carol Yip Choy which celebrates of the 200th Anniversary of the Chinese community in Trinidad. The works of choreographers Nancy Herrera, Joanne Decle, Patricia Roe, Gillian Merry, Michelle Mose and Claudia Applewhaite are also presented by the students of the School.
Admission is $75.00.

Caribbean School of Dancing

Heather Henderson-Gordon’s Company Danse Caribe
Is also on stage on the 25th and 26th November With ENTRAPPED. Choreographers are Heather Henderson-Gordon, Gregoire Breedy, Candice Ellis, Raymond Ross, Hamid Mohammed and Makeba Gabriel.
Admission: Presales are $60 and at the door $80.
Patrons of Queen’s Hall get a $5 discount.

The Royal Opera Say Thanks

Hazel Province, Orchestra Director of the Royal Opera wrote to us,

“So we are home! What a truly fantastic time we have all had in your country! This has been a trip that we will remember with great fondness for a very long time.
On behalf of the musicians and the Royal Opera House I would like to thank and the Patrons of Queen’s hall for extending to us such a kind invitation, for working so hard to realize our vision, and for such generous hospitality during our visit…
 …..Do stay in touch, perhaps we might find a way of bringing Dominique and the Ensemble back to Trinidad in the not too distant future.
With all best wishes.

The Patrons reply

It is we, the music lovers of Trinidad and Tobago, who have to thank you for sharing your music with us and allowing us to appreciate the work of our national classical composer. A member of the audience said ‘to be seated in Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain, at a live performance, of some of the world’s finest musicians, performing the work of a national classical composer, was surreal.”
It was an experience that we will savour for a long time and we are already thinking of ways to deepen the relationship with the Chamber Ensemble and Dominique.
Very Gratefully,

A Birthday Brunch

In November, our organization would have been in existence for 20 years and we are planning to celebrate the achievement with a Birthday Brunch with live entertainment from 10am to 2.00 pm on Sunday 26th November for our members and friends. So pencil in the date as a Must on your busy Christmas Calendar.
Tickets are $150.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

12th
8.30 p.m.
GALA OPENING
Once On This Island
Mervyn de Goyas
Mermade Theatre & Charisse Parsons

*13th
8.30 p.m.
Once On This Island

14th
4.30/8.30 p.m.
Once On This Island

15th
4.30./8.30 p.m.
Once On This Island

23rd – 31st
Best Village Finals
Ministry of Community Development, Culture & Gender Affairs

N O V E M B E R

26th November
10.00 a.m.
Birthday Brunch
Patrons of Queen’s Hall

Discounts

BOX OFFICE OPENS
Ms Astra da Costa, her Board and Manager continue to develop the facilities of Queen’s Hall a pace. Spotlight was delighted to note that the sale of tickets for The Royal Opera Chamber Ensemble took place in the new well appointed Box Office and that the Lobby is now comfortably furnished. Of course the availability of the second car park is a STRESS MINIMIZER. Now if we could only do something about the late comers!!!

TTPOST
The Patrons of Queen’s Hall would like to thank TTPOST for their generous donation of 3,000 stamped envelopes. As our membership and our activities grow so too does the cost of keeping in touch, so we are grateful for this very significant and substantial contribution.

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY
20 years ago, Queen’s Hall was in dire straights, the facility was run down and funds were hard to come by. The chairman Val Rogers with a very talented and capable membership Board devised a strategic plan to rescue the national treasure. Among their objectives was the establishing of a Friends of Queen’s Hall organization which would obtain independent funds to deal with the very urgent needs of the theatre. The manager was mandated to get such an organization up and running, which she did with 20 theatre lovers. They got together and organized a brunch. It raised $200, enough money in those days to provide seed money to establish The Patrons of Queen’s Hall. We’ve come along way; we now have a facility that meets international standards. The Artistic Director of the Royal Opera Chamber Ensemble stated publicly that the acoustics of Queen’s Hall rank with the best in the world. Let us recognize the hard work and commitment of lovers of the Arts. See you on the 26th November for brunch.

DOMINIQUE’S OPERA OPENS
Those of us who were fortunate enough to attend the live performance of Dominique Le Gendre’s Chamber Suite, Tales of the Islands, in August at Queen’s Hall will be interested in knowing that her full length opera Bird of Night with Libretto by Paul Bentley will have its world premiere on October 19th at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Welcome New Members

Gilbert & Inga Bain
John & Sandra Chin Yuen Kee
Mr. Andre Dick/Ms. Helen Ross
Ms. Susan Gordon
Randall & Sherina Mohammed
Ms Allison Nordgren
Mr & Mrs Damien Sucre
Eustace & Tierete Seignoret