In a dramatic departure from the usual start to Emancipation Day, the thousands gathered on the Promenade for the traditional August 1st Parade will bear witness to ‘Freedom Morning Come!!!' the latest historical drama by local playwright Eintou Pearl Springer.
The emotionally potent and historically charged piece will be presented on Emancipation morning just before the community groups move off for their yearly pilgrimage to honour those who fought for freedom from enslavement.
The main purpose behind the play is educational and to inspire a deepening of the understanding of Emancipation. The intention is go beyond the clothes, beyond the drumming, the dancing and the outward displays, and take the experience to another, more spiritual level by reflecting on the privilege of freedom.
"Our children are alien to this history", says Springer as she talks about her motivation for her latest piece of work. "The history of the people of African heritage has been so distorted, and it continues to be misrepresented, even in 2010. It therefore is important to inform present day generations about the brutality of the system and the dehumanisation that took place; and they must also be told of the constant resistance to enslavement and the enduring pride and dignity of the African".
This is the first time in the history of Trinidad and Tobago that the reading of the Emancipation proclamation and the events leading up to it will be presented in a dramatic format.
It is the vision of the Emancipation Support Committee, executive producers of the play, that this production will be made available to all young people across the nation as a means of bridging knowledge gaps and inspiring pride in our African legacy.
The tremendous amount of historical facts and details compiled by Springer in her research for this play using original documents, texts, interviews and newspaper clippings from the era, means that ‘Freedom Morning Come!!!' is now an important source of information about a period which has largely been unexplored by the education system, at any level.
Additionally, it is expected that ‘Freedom Morning Come!!!' will also dramatically contextualise one of the most important events in
the history of Trinidad and Tobago, in the same way that ‘Kambule' the play has placed the Carnival in its historical context of African cultural resistance and resilience.
The stellar local cast will ensure that patrons enjoy an intense and fulfilling experience on Emancipation morning. Theatre legend Eunice Alleyne has come out of retirement to be part of the production, which also boasts stalwarts of the stage such as Noel Blandin, Camille Quamina and Brendon Lacaille.
Truly a fitting way to commemorate a day which focuses on the freedom of a people and the freedom of a nation.
So come out and be part of the experience of ‘Freedom Morning Come!!!' and keep checking the site for all the latest details on the play. You can also see updates on what we are doing on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter see our videos on You Tube: Idakeda Group Online and as always –
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