Constantly pushing the boundaries by tackling the most taboo societal issues, the Quilt Performing Arts Company (Q-PAC) is certainly making their mark on the world. The young theatre group is based at the University of the West Indies(UWI), Mona and was formed with the objective of researching and creating pieces from works that were not originally meant for the stage. Hence, Quilt aims to transform theatre in Jamaica by exploring the use of unconventional theatre forms to the wider Jamaican audience.
“Quilt”, represents the different personalities, backgrounds, ideologies and performance styles of the members. As a family, they each function uniquely but together the patchwork is a holistic Quilt. This Quilt today consists of students from UWI, the University of Technology, and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
The company has copped numerous awards and is lauded for their creative and unique performance style. Debuting in 2010 at the Tallawah Drama Festival with a dramatic piece titled “Apostrophe”, the group won Best Production, as well as awards for Best Lighting, Best Costumes, Best Use of Stage Properties, Best Use of Sound/Music, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress. Quilt is also very well known for their production “73”, which reflects the events of the 2010 Tivoli Gardens military incursion in the community to have Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke extradited to the U.S. to face criminal charges there.
They not only share their talent with Jamaica, they also mentor the youth. In Summer 2013, the group held its first ‘Art Beat’ Summer Camp in Clarendon, hosting 25 secondary school students. The camp exposed them to various art forms: dance techniques,devised theatre, drumming, poetry and dancehall music. Q-PAC members also try to give back to their community. For Labour Day 2013, they treated the elementary students of the Mona Commons Basic School by sharing “old time stories”, having the children jointly perform with them as well as by providing refreshments. News about this event led to the group being invited to headline the entertainment at the Prime Minister’s treat for children in December 2013. Annually, this treat is held under the auspices of the Prime Minister for children in the State’s care in Kingston and St. Andrew.
Most recently Quilt was selected as one of six groups to participate in the Contacting the World Arts Festival to be held in Manchester, England in Summer 2014. The process saw entries from many talented theatre groups/companies all over the world. The other companies selected to participate are Bread and Butter, India; Contact Young Actors Company (CYAC), England; Corby Young Actors, UK; FireflyArts – Fresh, UK and Margin Theatre, Iran. This annual festival aims to showcase the works of young theatre groups that transform their environs through the Arts.
artistic director Rayon McLean as well as from company members Roxan Webber, Tristan Rodney, Odaine Murray, Maya Wilkinson and Rasheen Roper. Guest choreographer Michael Holgate and musical tutor O’Neil Jones are also contributors to this spectacular package which will depict the release of different energies in one space. It revisits the roots of Jamaica’s African ancestry as well as highlights past works from the company’s repertoire. The event will be staged at The Phillip Sherlock Centre of the Creative Arts (PSCCA); proceeds are in aid of the group’s trip to England to participate in the Contacting…festival.
