Roots theatre legends to be honoured

Roots theatre thespians Maxwell 'Bashy' Grant and Leon 'Lemon' Parkins are elated about being awardees of the upcoming Jamaica Roots Theatre Awards show that will be hosted on October 4.

Grant, who has racked up more than 60 years of work, will be inducted in the Roots Theatre Foundation Hall of Fame.

"I feel good about that because nuh whole heap a money nuh inna it [theatre arts] again, but at least yuh get some satisfaction knowing that you mek people enjoy demself, laugh and get rid a dem stress while yuh a get rid a your stress too," he laughed. "I'm really thankful and glad for it and respect to [the founder of Roots Theatre Foundation] Everton Dawkins because mi duh suh much things fi other guys in theatre and dem nuh really remember me suh mi glad fi di recognition," Grant said.

The veteran act, who is known for plays such as Bashment Granny and Passa Passa, said his longevity is not only due to his deep passion for the arts, but his love for younger talent. He's confident that the future for theatre arts is "very bright".

"It's a craft enuh - it's drama. It's an art, and all yuh affi duh wid art is recreate it fi it remain fresh and blend in with the time fi keep current wid di slangs and talk in di streets. Why me stay inna theatre suh long and suh old and people still want to see me is because mi keep on building mi characters wid di new trends, feel and involve the crowd and gel in nicely wid di younger folks dem and embrace dem. Mi love work wid young people, dem help keep mi going," he said.

Parkins, an established actor, comedian and singer with 33 years in the industry, agree that "Yuh can never put down theatre."

"There's a season when it get likkle dullish but den it up again and start run di place. But it can never dead, cyaah guh noweh because even on TikTok right now, everybody a duh some reenactment a some old show weh wi duh back den. People will always enjoy a good play and a good laugh suh it cyaah dead," he told THE STAR.

Grant grew up in August Town, St Andrew, in a tough family situation and little schooling. But he learnt to appreciate the arts on a deeper level because it gave him "purpose".

"Theatre bring happiness to me because I didn't know I have dis hidden talent until theatre found me," he said. "A from dat mi start to build a likkle personality, have a likkle self-esteem and see miself as having purpose in life because at least mi can soothe people mind and mi travel all bout and tear dung di whole a overseas just using mi God-given talent," said Grant.

The red carpet-styled awards event will be celebrating its fourth staging in association with Dynamite Productions. Other honourees will include lifetime achievement awardees - Parkins, dancer/actor Orville Hall, Trudy Campbell and Wayne Newby. It is set to take place at the Anglican Church Hall in Ocho Rios, St Ann. Parkins wants to see more awards within the theatre space.

"It's a good look man because when yuh hear bout awards, yuh a look if a deejay and singer, and when yuh look pon entertainment, dem really nuh have entertainment like us (actors). When yuh come watch a play, nobody naah war and yuh a leave a laugh and a guh home happy, and wi nuh get look pon like wi a part a di culture. Is like wi just deh deh," he opined. "Suh it's a great vibes fi know seh as an actor, dat can change tings when yuh have inna yuh bio seh yuh get a lifetime achievement award from theatre arts, suh it's a big supm fi me."

Dawkins opined that actors are not treated fairly and appreciated for carrying the culture to Jamaica and the world.

"So doing this, it shows some form of respect and appreciation to the roots theatre practitioners," he told THE STAR, while crediting Hall for firstly suggesting the idea.