The Fairfield Theatre

Location :

Fairfield Road, Fairfield., 00 Montego Bay
Added by Jopie, at 01 January 2020

THE FAIRFIELD THEATRE

The Montego Bay Little Theatre Movement (MLTM) was founded in 1975
by Paul Methuen with the full blessings and assistance of LTM’s Henry
and Greta Fowler. In fact, Mrs. Fowler became the first Life President and
on her passing, Paul Methuen, who is now retired and living in Scotland,
took up the mantle. Rallied by Mr. Methuen’s drive for quality theatrical
expression, a group of benevolent Montegonians took it upon themselves to
raise the requisite public interest and funding to create a charming, intimate
theatre on a hill just outside the bustle of Montego Bay proper.

The Fairfield Theatre was converted out of the old club house pavilion
overlooking the famed grass courts of the once posh Fairfield Estate. It
is the classic proscenium-arch type stage, with ramped seating for 175. The
theatre has the widest stage of Jamaica’s current crop of small theatres. The
very first presentation in May 1975 was a combination of three One Act
plays aptly called 3 to 1. As many expatriates were among those involved in
the formative period of the mid-seventies, it is not surprising that many of
the earlier works were either British or American in origin and nature. Mr.
Methuen was already a celebrated director of many Shakespearean works in
Kingston, so MLTM productions of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet
were expected, even if not well supported! As MLTM became firmly
committed to a varied theatrical fare, the entire gamut of African, American,
West Indian, British and now mostly Jamaican pieces have been done with
success. Many of the earlier productions have traveled to Kingston to
receive even more critical acclaim. Among those making it to “tour” the
capital city would be ‘Man Better Man’; ‘Romeo & Juliet’; ‘Night of Jan.
16th’; ‘Chapter Two’, ‘Count Dracula’; ‘Feminine Justice’ and more
recently; ‘Di Fallen Angel and the Devil’s concubine’, ‘Voices’ another
production of ‘Man Better Man’, ‘Hairpeace’, “Prayer Partner” and the
original revue “Bay Vibez” in 2008.

With the gradual change in the hue of both audience base and in the
composition of the Management Committee driving the theatre’s course,
most Jamaican playwrights have been produced. Trevor Rhone, Louis
Marriott, Patrick Brown, Basil Dawkins and David Heron have all visited
and had their works produced. In fact, Basil Dawkins’ “Feminine Justice”
created the first major award for an “out of towner” when Lloyd B. Smith
copped the ITI (Jamaica Centre) Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in

2001. As if to prove this was no fluke, Fabian Thomas won the same
prestigious award in 2002 for his outstanding portrayal in Neil
Simon’s “God’s Favorite”. And yet another jewel was placed in the Fairfield
crown when in 2003 Makeda Solomon topped an impressive field to land
the Best Actress in Lead role for Basil Dawkins’ “What the Hell”. All three
awardees were under the direction of incumbent chairman, Douglas Prout.
Among some of the major box office successes over the years would be:
70’s- “Moon on a Rainbow Shawl”; “An Inspector calls”; “Man
Better Man”; “Ti Jean and His Brothers”; “Ladies in Retirement” and “All
over Town”.

80’s-“Man Better Man”; “Present Laughter”; The Night of January
16th”; “School’s Out”; “Chapter Two”; “Sleuth”; “Romeo and Juliet” and
Count Dracula”.

90’s - “Move over Mrs Markham”; The Odd Couple”; “Same Song,
Different Tune”; “Old Story Time”; “Waiting in the Wings”; “Arsenic and
Old Lace”; “Smile Orange”; “Don’t Dress for Dinner” and “Toy Boy”.

2000 and beyond - Against His Will (first overseas tour - Florida)
; “Feminine Justice”; “December”; “Love and Marriage and New York
City”; “Children Children”; “The General’s Inn” (our historic first world
premiere); “God’s Favorite”; “Two for One” , “What the hell is happening
to Us, Dear?”; “Redemption” and “Bay Vibez” - our own satirical musical
revue.

There is a new wave of interest in developing writers and poetry in
particular is proving popular. Top of the current crop of writers would
be Jane Crichton, Makeda Solomon and Fabian Thomas - former Vice
Chairman. There is a monthly meeting of a group of writers and aspiring
writers who refer to themselves as the ‘Fairfield Poets’. David Tulloch’s
brand new script ‘Prayer Partner’ had its impressive World Premiere
to kick off the 2006 season and the year was chockfull o’goodies
with Family Affair, A Gift for Mom and The Marriage Counselor
following. “Outside” presentations are always welcome, and Sydney Reid
Productions has had much success here over the years, including “Dear
Counselor”, “Playboy”, “Woody’s Last Stand”, “A Gift For Mom”
and “Concubine”.

With a rich history of varied successes and the growing acceptance of the
community, the management of Montego Bay’s only little theatre is proud of its reputation as an amateur organization of the strictest professional
standards.

Add email
Add website
Add photos
Add Social Media
Add Products and Services

No reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.