BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD dramatist Rae-Dawn Thomas will be staging an afternoon of drama at the Tucker Clarke Primary School on June 26, from which the proceeds will be donated to a boy and girl of that institution with the best Test of Standards results.
According to Thomas, the presentation will commence from 4:00 p.m. and the money will be going towards a scholarship fund for the two students; a donation she hopes to continue on an annual basis.
Thomas said the idea came to her as she thought of a way to give back to her old school which is responsible for her getting involved in drama. “I started drama at Tucker Clark Primary at age 10 while I was in grade five and been doing it ever since, so I want to give back something to the school.”
Her drama teacher, local playwright Moses Byron, said the show is being dubbed “Rae Girl on stage” and is focused on social issues. He said also that it would be held under the distinguish patronage of the school’s Principal Sylvester Charles.
Thomas further stated that she would encourage students to get involved in drama because it helps with one’s memory, public speaking and the building of one’s confidence. She added that it also helps children to be active in “fun positive things” that could keep them out of trouble and away from negativities.
The drama lover also took the opportunity to invite everyone to come out on June 26, as she reiterated that it is for a good cause and only a small fee of $5 for adults and $2 for children.
In her first year at drama, Thomas won Best Actress over all in the Finco Primary School Drama Festival and also managed to get her school [Tucker Clarke Primary] into the Finals for the first time.
In 2007 she went to a drama camp where she won all the activities and was presented with a trophy for Most Valuable Performance. In the following year, she thrilled a huge crowd of people when she entered the Miss Labour Pageant and took the title, while in the process winning Best Talent with a powerful drama piece titled “Today for me tomorrow for you” which gained her 172 points of a possible 180.
Apart from the upcoming show later this month, Thomas has plans for two other shows scheduled for July; one at Taylor’s Housing Development on the July 2 and the other at Carnival Village on July 17. She declared that proceeds from these shows would assist in the making of her second DVD.
With her mind set on becoming an actress, there is no turning back for this 14-year-old as she is currently working on a movie with Byron called Hurry Dog Eat Raw Corn. Thomas stars in the movie as a young girl who disobeyed her mother, followed the wrong company and, in turn, suffered the consequences. The movie, she said, should be ready by December 2009.
