The National Drama Festival (NDF) is now in progress at the National Cultural Centre. The curtains opened last night with a new play Next Door Neighbour and the drama continues tonight from 7 o’clock with two other new works – Hidden Secrets and Daddy I Am A Boy.
The 2017 Festival is a much-reduced version in many ways, although the prize money and dazzling awards to be won remain the same. But because of the concept and focus of this festival the advantages and gains transcend the moment and the lucrative attraction of prizes.
The NDF has a range of concrete gains, achievements and developmental landmarks that can be counted over the past few years. Among these is invaluable exhibition of Guyanese plays and the opportunity provided for the public to see Guyanese drama old and new, popular favourites and unknown potential all in one concentrated short period. This collection of drama is always extremely instructive about the theatre of Guyana and allows a very reliable survey of the field. Always one can see established plays, from the near and distant past and can compare or contrast them with the new and rising works, many of them being seen on stage for the first time. Importantly, for those interested in a study, trends are consistently revealed in what is a virtual study of the Guyanese stage.
The festival this year is
