One of the most significant developments in the theatre in Guyana now is the return of The Link Show. After its most recent hiatus of some 3 years, Guyana’s longest running satire celebrated its third rebirth at the National Cultural Centre at the beginning of March, 2019 – reappearing as the KFC Link Show 34 – directed by Ron Robinson, produced by Gem Madhoo-Nascimento and presented by The Theatre Company and GEMS Theatre Productions.
This is a very happy reunion and a welcome reappearance of a satirical revue that is important because of its history, its social and entertainment value and its honoured place in the tradition of Caribbean theatre. It is very encouraging that the Link Show team can find it possible to work together again and revive an institution that is of such value to the theatre, and that has been threatened with extinction. It now stands with the Jamaica Pantomime as one of the only two surviving cornerstones of an old and deep-rooted performance tradition in the Caribbean.
Satire has been at the core of Caribbean theatre since slavery. It was a main ingredient in the importations and transmigrations from Africa, of forms that evolved on the plantations, as well as in post-emancipation society; in the revelries of the white population and in importations and influences from Europe. Folk performances thrived on satire. There were elements of humour and of serious issues whose outlet was theatre. For example, the Trinidad Carnival has roots in the nègres de jardin (field slaves – very literally, garden negroes) masques of the Europeans and the Canboulay (from cannes brulees – burnt canes) of the Africans.
