UWI celebrates Walcott

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Legendary St. Lucian (and adopted Trinidadian) Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott is being celebrated this week at the University of the West Indies (UWI) through a conference (12–15 January, entitled Interlocking Basins of a Globe) in honour of his 80th birthday.

The conference begins with an exhibition of the Walcott family’s private collection of his paintings and a performance of Fragments, a play celebrating Walcott’s literary works.

From 13 January, panel discussions begin around the the themes of “Walcott’s Ghosts and Confréres,” “History as Muse” and “Myths and Histories.” Professor of History, Bridget Brereton will chair a special panel of some established members of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, including Eunice Alleyne, Albert Laveau and Nigel Scott. There will also be a keynote address delivered by Professor Emeritus Edward Baugh, editor of Walcott’s Selected Poems in 2007. Other featured speakers include Professor Emeritus Gordon Rohlehr and Dr. Jean Antoine-Dunne.

Discussions and performances of his work are being complemented by screenings of films made of his work and documentaries about the celebrated author. Screenings take place in the screening room of the Institute of Critical Thinking at the UWI campus, and are free and open to all.

Wednesday 13th @ 12:30pm: The Rig
Written and directed by Walcott and first shown in 1983, The Rig is the Anglophone Caribbean’s first made-for-television feature film. Starring Maurice Brash, Joanne Kilgour and John Isaacs, The Rig explores the impact of the oil industry on village life on the southeast coast of Trinidad, through the classic story of a love triangle.

Thursday 14th at 3:45pm: The Joker of Seville
This is a filmed version of one of Walcott’s most popular plays. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Academy, The Joker of Seville is an updating of the classic El burlador de Sevilla, by Spanish playwright Tirso de Molina. In his version, Walcott employs the refined wit and relaxed pacing of de Molina’s play to examine aspects of social revolution.

Friday 15th at 2pm: The Haytian Earth, The Saddhu of Couva, The Rig
The Haytian Earth, a made-for-television version of the final installment of Walcott’s Haitian Trilogy of plays, is a historical drama of the slavery, rebellion, murder, greed, and power struggles that have fertilised the Haitian earth with blood. The Saddhu of Couva, directed by local filmmaker Yao Ramesar and narrated by Walcott, is a short film based on the poem of the same title.

The event culminates with a reading by the Walcott, and an opportunity for book signing. The entire conference is free. For more information, contact Jean Antoine at 662-2002 ext 3021, or jean.antoine@sta.uwi.edu.