EDITOR, The Tribune.
It was with great sadness that I heard of the death of my fellow writer and thespian, James Catalyn.
I first met James in the mid-sixties at a drama workshop sponsored by the Extra Mural Department of the University of the West Indies. Following the workshop he invited me to join the Bahama Drama Circle, a group founded by Maquella Cartwright Smith.
This group had many talented thespians including the late Charles Bowleg, Cedric Scott, Livingstone Colebrooke, Sheila Tracey, the late John Chafe and Noel Hamilton.
We were later joined by other talented thespians like Angela Scott, Pandora Gibson, John Hester, Calvin Cooper, Greg Lampkin, Ada Thompson Hepburn, Pat Rahming and Winston Saunders, among others.
The group had many memorable performances, including The Amen Corner, Moon on A Rainbow Shawl, The Gingerbread Lady, The Blood Knot and my infamous “Vicious Circle”.
We also performed for prisoners at HMP and produced several satiric revues like A Touch of Biblical satirising Majority rule, and Le Noir Supreme satirising the first years of PLP governance.
James was one of the driving forces behind the group and remained a stalwart until all the groups united under the banner of the Dundas.
I performed and wrote for the Dundas but James formed his own group and entertained hundreds of Bahamians annually with his Laughing At Weself.
The Bahamas has lost a great cultural icon and his writing and acting will be missed. Rest in Peace good friend.
JEANNE THOMPSON
Nassau,
August 20, 2018.
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