BAJANA
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Written & Directed by Janelle Mitchell
B A J A N A
MA Creative Arts Candidate
a dramatic play
MEDIA KIT Contact: 417-4776
Email: ebcci@cavehill.uwi.edu
Website: www.cavehill.uwi.ebcci/events
Media Kit
www.cavehill.uwi.ebcci/events
BAJANA
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ERROL BARROW CENTRE FOR CREATIVE IMAGINATION
Post Graduate Student Stages Play
BAJANA The Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI), UWI Cave Hill Campus will be staging their Master of Arts Creative Arts Thesis Production, the play ‘BAJANA’ of Janelle Mitchell, a MA Creative Arts student. A one-act play written & directed by Ms. Mitchell, Bajana features the cultural expressions of Barbados and will be staged Wednesday July 31st at 7:30p.m in the Walcott Warner Theatre of EBCCI. The staging of this full length play is a component of Janelle’s Thesis as she shares her artistry, through public viewing, with the Barbadian Community. A play for all ages, the work comes at one of the more festive times of the year in Barbados and when there is much discussion on our culture and identity. Bajana tells the story of a young spirit’s pursuit for a lost identity. It features songstress/actor Leanne Humphrey, the lead character in the role of Shea; dancer/actor Carol Brathwaite, supporting character Ms Abiodun and singer/songwriter/actor Indra Rudder portrays the Griot/Anane. These individuals embody the main characters that drive the action of the play through the weaving of the story. Entrance to BAJANA is by free invitation which can be collected from the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination from Friday July 26. To make reservations or for further information and to attend, call 417-4776 or email ebcci@cavehill.uwi.edu or visit www.cavehill.uwi.edu/ebcci/events.
Media Kit
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BAJANA
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After denying her roots a young spirit is at a crossroads as she now tries to understand her identity.
BAJANA How is a young spirit freed after denying her African roots? Shea struggles with this, confined in her new home. The space is unfamiliar, no longer can she roam as a free spirit. Known to be quite vocal, she speaks her mind without caution. Having departed the physical realm , She is still in shock, she had great ambition that never saw the light of day. Never recovering from this shock, Shea has suppressed all memory of her past, subduing even her own identity. Shea is not alone in this quest. Ms Abiodun, someone with more experience and has a more mature spirit takes up residency in the neighbourhood. A woman of wise spirit, she has had experience in guiding young spirits on the journey of self-discovery, she knows how to handle stubborn spirits like Shea, who need guidance. Steeped in the Afro-Barbadian culture, Ms Abiodun is a celebration child. The weaving of this quest to find Bajana is niftily narrated by the Griot, Anane who somehow gives her two cents in the telling.
Media Kit
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BAJANA
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ABOUT THE PLAY Bajana is a full length dramatic presentation, a one Act divided into three scenes. The setting for this action unfolds in a Caribbean Historical Museum. The play will follow the basic narrative of the Ananse story, that is, the storytelling style said to have origins in West Africa. The story’s web will be spun to tell of the happenings of the past, the present and the projections for the future. The language use in this play will showcase a mixture of Standard English, Barbadian dialect and some African phrases. This in a sense, is the representation of how our language patterns have evolved. Bajana is seeking to attract a new audience to the EBCCI, targeting young adults to take in this showcase as the preservation of our culture is in the hands of each generation of the youth. The cast of Bajana were specially selected, as their reality is filled with an embracement of Afrocentric lifestyles. The three characters each add an element of dynamism that can positively propel the concept and action of Bajana when it is staged. They each support the notion of Sankofa and this enhanced the choice to select each individual to re-tell the story of Shea. The play features visual elements of heritage through art, artefacts and cultural expression. This play seeks to preserve Afro-Barbadian culture. The themes identified throughout the play are identity, African heritage and Sankofa. Bajana is scheduled to be presented Wednesday, July 31st at 7:30 P.M in the Walcott
Warner Theatre of the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, UWI Cave Hill
Campus. The post graduate creative project by MA candidate Janelle Mitchell, is open for public viewing especially for youth, entrance is by invitation which can be collected from the EBCCI daily.
Director’s Statement Bajana exemplifies my persona as a creative artist and those observed in the performing arts. Choosing a name for the play that symbolically represents Bajan with an African injection resulted in ‘Bajana’. This play explores the cultural expressions of Barbados that channel an African spirit. It presents a subtle dimension of how our culture is currently shaped socially, historically and politically but it is not a historical play. Bajana is a social engager that can inspire continued preservation of our Afro-Barbadian culture. It begs one to see that culture goes beyond physical practices and is embedded in the spirit. Spirit lives on!
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BAJANA
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Creative Team
Janelle Mitchell Writer & Director Janelle developed a love for the performing arts and a desire to become a creative artist from a deep seated passion that was sparked from early mimicking and African dance class. This lover of higher education has shaped her artistry through her studies of a BFA where she attained honours in 2010. Janelle has spent the past two years perfecting her skills to become an established Arts Entrepreneur in Barbados and the Caribbean. She strives for the development and advancement of the youth of Barbados through the arts. One of the first five women to graduate from the inaugural creative arts programme at Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, Janelle has written and directed the stage play ‘BAJANA’, a postgraduate thesis creative project as she pursues the MA in Creative Arts. Janelle enjoys working with young people and gives back to the community by shaping the artistry of young dramatists with the National Summer Camp Programme and Mustardseed Productions Inc. She seeks to be totally immersed in the creative arts as a Creative Director of any type of stage performance, ranging from songs, dances and theatre. Janelle aspires to offer workshops of ‘Expressions’ catering specifically to dancers to help in the characterisation of choreography for the betterment of the artistic vision of the choreographer. Janelle’s goal is to continue to reciprocate that which was shared with her through her experience in the arts to the youth as a developmental tactic. Janelle has represented Barbados in the selected plays or dramatic presentations: Odale’s Choice, 2008, Supporting Actor - CARIFESTA X (Guyana) Labour of Love, 2009, Lead Actor - Tallawah (Jamaica) Best Female Monologue Going for Love, 2010, Lead Actor - Barbados on the Water Festival (Toronto) Embodied Knowing, 2012, Supporting Actor - Ambassador Reception (Cuba)
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Set & Lighting Designer Geneal St Clair is a graduate of the BFA programme of the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination. She has recently attained her masters in Design and Technical Theatre from the University of Calgary, Canada. She has worked as assistant lighting designer and created some set designs throughout her studies. To date she has worked with one of Canada’s most proclaimed lighting designers Harry Frehner.
Art Director Petra Toyin Haynes is an award winning Visual Artist and Art Director. Petra has also done extensive work in her community and carries a number of titles such as Face & Body Painter, Costume & Masks Designer, Muralist, Make-up and Costume Design Tutor among many others. Petra also works with the Ministry of Youth as Youth Development Officer and has developed creative projects for the development of the youth.
Sound Designer Stefan Walcott is a Barbadian pianist and composer. Throughout his career, Stefan has been privileged to perform with and write for a wide cross section of artists, both in England where he studied, and in his native Barbados. Stefan currently is artistic director of the only big band and steel pan group in the Caribbean, the 1688 Orchestra which he started. Stefan is currently reading for a Phd in cultural studies with a specialty interest in music of the English speaking Caribbean. Visit www.stefanwalcottblog.com
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CAST Shea Leanne Vanessa Humphrey is an rising Barbadian performing artist whose ultimate goal is to become an international recording artist. She has an Associate Degree in Theatre Arts from BCC and is now pursuing her Associate Degree in Music at the Edna Manley College in Jamaica.
Abiodun Carol Brathwaite is an experienced dancer versed in numerous dance styles who has expanded her performing arts skills into theatre. She attained her BFA in Creative Arts and personifies is free spirit who is grateful for all her blessings and all that are yet to come without any expectations.
Griot/Anane Indra
Rudder
or
stage
personae
‘iNDRANi’,
is
a
multidimensional creative artist. The Most High and Art are in everything that she does and these range from singing, writing, dancing, acting and painting. Rudder is a pioneer in arts development for Caribbean talent and has represented Barbados and the region at CME/UNESCO, SXSW, WSIS and MIDEM. Visit www.indranimusic.com.
Media Kit
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BAJANA a dramatic play COMING TO THE STAGE JULY 31 For further information call 417-4776 OR Email ebcci@cavehill.uwi.edu OR Visit www.cavehill.uwi.ebcci/events
Media Kit
www.cavehill.uwi.ebcci/events