J’Ouvert Again

The sound from the music trucks hit Sonia like a brick wall, lifting all the hairs on her scalp and arms and almost lifting her off the ground. Continue reading →

Divas Calypso Cabaret International launched (February 13, 2019)

“Calypso tents and steelband are the fundamental basis of T&T Carnival.” Trinbago Unified Calypsonian’s Organisation (TUCO) President Lutalo Masimba, aka Brother Resistance, made the statement during the opening of the Divas Calypso Cabaret International calypso tent on Friday evening. Tent manager Dr. Rudolph Ottley said the tent celebrates 16 years of existence this year. He … Continue reading →

Making up for Carnival with Adafih Padmore (January 8, 2019)

As Carnival approaches, many mas players begin the search for the makeup artist to make them look good at fetes and on the road. One makeup artist offering her services to make players feel beautiful is Adafih Padmore. Padmore has been doing makeup for many years, having completed a diploma in makeup artistry from the … Continue reading →

Fete supreme in the Southland (January 7, 2019)

With over 7,000 people in attendance, promoter Sheldon Stephen says Xperience Fete may have been the biggest fete in South Trinidad for Carnival 2019. He said this is part of his mission to improve the fete experience in South Trinidad. Stephen said the number of patrons at the event is even more impressive considering that … Continue reading →

George Bailey’s legacy lives on (February 6, 2019)

An atmosphere of energy and purpose surrounds the Bailey mas camp, as descendants and peers of legendary mas man George Bailey prepare to launch the band Bailey Dynasty Mas. The presentation, Tribal Fantasy, is being built by Bailey’s brother Albert, niece Leeann and grand-nieces Allendra and Amanda, along with Dexter MacLean and Geoffrey Serrette. The … Continue reading →

The sky’s the limit for Lil Bitts (January 31, 2019)

“I’m a creative body and I feel like artists should not limit themselves.” This is the reasoning behind Shivonne “Lil Bitts” Churche-Isaacs’ expansion of her creativity into other spheres, with soca releases, a section in Ronnie and Caro’s mas band and performances with the National Theatre Arts Company of T&T. Churche-Isaacs has released two soca … Continue reading →

Theatre legend Helen Camps talks Carnival (February 14, 2016)

The fourth Monday Night Forum at the Trinidad Theatre Workshop featuring legendary Trinidad Theatre practitioner and Tent Theatre Founding Artistic Director Helen Camps, drew a crowd of admirers, theatre practitioners and the curious, and for good reason. Camps’ stories of her current work in the maximum security prisons alternately drew tears to the eyes and … Continue reading →

Meditations on a Minshall mas (February 7, 2016)

“T&T mas has played the glory that was Greece, Imperial Rome, Africa, New Guinea, China, the Forbidden City and gone into realms of fantasy. There are no boundaries to the realms of the imagination.” Veteran masman Peter Minshall had those words for those who questioned the relevance of his 2016 Carnival King piece, “The Dying … Continue reading →