 The Full Cast: Top to bottom; Jessica Bain, Veronica Dorsett, Tazianna Elysee, Sophie Paine, Rico Thompson, Glaire Delancy, Jade Pinder, Clifford Bowe. The troupe of eight play 60 different parts in the one hour performance. The production includes scenes and stories from 14 different works of Shakespeare using original script, two Cole Porter songs, beat boxing and a rap! |  Sophie Paine, playing Theseus from Midsummer Night's Dream, considers the lover, the lunatic and the poet are all more strange than true. |
A new style of theatre is about to come to light in Grand Bahama on 10th and 11th October at the Garden of the Groves. A selection of some of the best scenes from Shakespeare will be performed in roving theatre-style by the Lucaya Youth Theatre Society (LYTS).
 Katherine and Petruchio: Played by Veronica Dorsett and Rico Thompson in a rather 'fresh' look at the comedy, Taming of the Shrew. |  Three witches and Hecate - Swapping their cauldrons for cell phones, these four transform Fern Gully in Garden of the Groves into Fern Ghetto! Played by (L-R) Glaire Delancy, Jade Pinder, Jessica Bain and Veronica Dorsett. |
It is a concept new to Grand Bahama and which promises to be a unique and interesting experience for its audience. Director, Jackie Dack, said, “This is a radical departure from traditional theatre in Freeport. During the one hour production the actors move around a performance-space of half a mile and the audience goes with them on their journey. Each specially chosen piece portrays a different aspect of human emotion with a new part of the garden becoming the ‘theatre’ for each scene.
 Juliet and her Nurse played by Jessica Bain and Tazinanna Elysee. Juliet's Nurse tells her the most devastating news about Romeo. |  Hero from Much Ado About Nothing played by Jade Pinder. |
“It is a great challenge for the cast to perform this show. They are forced to rely on the strength of their unamplified voices, are exposed to the elements and each one plays many parts - changing characters throughout. We have a troupe of highly trained, talented actors who have been in production for four months and are ready to make something really special happen.
“Performing Shakespeare in this incredible setting adds a new dimension to the drama. It brings an ‘edge’ to the work which heightens the entertainment value.”
 Romeo and Juliet stealing a kiss on the balcony. Played by Rico Thompson and Jessica Bain. "I would I were that bird!" |  Jade Pinder as Prospero inviting us all to be cheerful as the revels now are ended. |
The Lucaya Youth Theatre Society was set up earlier this year to increase access to the dramatic arts for all young people of Grand Bahama and is wholly volunteer run and non-profit. This summer Dack and co-director Bill Nelson designed and taught an intensive Shakespeare Summer School. The results were amazing. For example, at the end, a 15 year student said, “I can now understand my Bible,” as Elizabethan language had been properly decoded on the course. Many other teenagers who had never heard of Shakespeare were able to perform the work with feeling by the end of the course. A new sense of fun and passion was created surrounding some of the best works ever.
After the summer school, Dack and Nelson saw the energy and motivation were there to do more. They auditioned for a troupe of players based on both attitude and ability.
Dack said, “It is a privilege to work with this cast. They are hardworking, talented, respectful and motivated. The aim was clear. We will deliver the best quality production possible. We do the best we can with what we have and have fun doing it. I am truly proud of this cast.”
The cast of eight come from many different schools, including, BMES, Catholic High, St. Georges, LIS and Sunland. Rico Thompson is a graduate of Jack Hayward High School and now works at Keenimedia Ltd and hosts both the Casino Show and Island View television each week.
The ticket prices have been set at $15.00 so that people who want to see this show can. This has been thanks to the many sponsors who have backed this venture; AID, Allan McEwan, Coral Windows, GBPA, JS Johnson and Sanitation Services.
Tickets are available at Island Java and the Garden of the Groves. Further information is available by calling 374-2879 or lytsoc@gmail.com.
