Vision

A forum where passionate students and educators of theatre arts in secondary schools could participate and exchange cultural experiences through theatre.

History of the Caribbean Secondary Schools’ Drama Association and Festival

It was on the compound of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine at an arts conference in 1991 that the idea of an arts exchange program was conceptualized. Icil ‘Mudda’ Phillips of Barbados and Victor Edwards, then President of the Secondary School’s Drama Association in Trinidad and Tobago (TTSSDA), began the discussion for such an initiative. In November 1992, Combermere High School of Barbados performed a play version of ‘Country of the one-eyed God’ at the T&T Drama Festival.

The success of this venture encouraged the SSDA administration of Trinidad and Tobago to invite Girls High School from St. Vincent to perform the play ‘Return to Paradise’ at its 1993 festival. Its director was David Williams. Since both experiments with single schools were conducted by the administration of the SSDA of T&T, it was only natural that the first Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival be held there. Its President, Mr. Victor Edwards, had used those opportunities to gauge the viability of hosting a Caribbean Drama Festival from among the schools in the region. He also became the first President of the Caribbean Secondary Schools’ Drama Association (CSSDA) with Claire Creese-Woodley as its Treasurer/ Secretary. Both members were from Trinidad and Tobago as It became easier, at that time for the easy transfer of funds under the SSDA since the CSSDA was still in its infancy.

When the idea was ratified within the SSDA, the Ministry of Culture as approached for support for the venture. The then director of culture Lester ‘Efebo’ Wilkinson, through his own confession in 1996 expressed the thought that Edwards ‘was mad’!  However, with the support of the festival’s sponsor, at the time, Trinidad and Tobago Methanol Company Limited, the idea of the festival became a reality. In 1994 then, the first Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival was held at the Naparima Bowl, San – Fernando. Montserrat, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago participated. The highlight of the festival was the concept of Caribbean Day and Night.

The festival was held again in Trinidad and Tobago in 1996. No country came forward in 1994 to host the biennial event. St Kitts (sugar, sugar and more sugar) and St. Lucia participated along with the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago. The festival was held during the meeting of Directors of Culture in Trinidad. An invitation was extended to the directors and some did attend including Carol Lawes, head of the Culture desk at the time. Guyana did not participate but did send an observer, Mr Ronald Hollingsworth. Guyana was the only country to submit a proposal to host the 1998 festival and as such were awarded the right to do so. The major change to the festival format was its focus on training. Caribbean day and Night remained the highlight of the festival.

Other countries to host were:

2000 – Jamaica (This was done in conjunction with the 50^th Celebrations of schools’ theatre)
2004 – Trinidad and Tobago Festival Director – Mr. Victor Edwards
2002 – Antigua & Barbuda
2007 – St. Lucia Festival Director – Mr. Eustace Simon
2013 – Barbados Festival Director- Mrs. Cecily Spencer-Cross
2015 – Trinidad and Tobago Festival Director – Mr. Anderson La Barrie (this was the first time all productions were done in both islands)
2017 – Antigua & Barbuda Festival Director – Mr. Owen Jackson

During the general meeting held in Antigua 2017, a vote was held where Mr. Anderson La Barrie was re-elected as the President of the CSSDA. He is currently the only appointed member of the Association. It was agreed that other members remain interim until a constitution along with a structure of the festival is done. Its first appointed executive will be done in St. Lucia 2019.

Presidents:

1996 – 2013 – Mr. Victor Edwards (Trinidad and Tobago)
2013 – 2016 – Ms. Quindell Ferguson (Jamaica)
2016 – present – Mr. Anderson La Barrie (Trinidad and Tobago)