Despite hosting a successful three nights of his latest production, ‘The Hidden Treasures of Batibou,’ playwright Alex Bruno is pleading with the Government to come on board and provide support for the performing arts and do something about the “technically tired” Arawak House of Culture, where the show was held.
Speaking to Dominica News Online, Bruno said the show went “generally well and we most likely did not run at a loss” but the venue posed a major hurdle for staging such a top-notch event.
He said additional lights had to be brought in to stage the production.
“The Arawak is in need of serious refurbishing, equipment need to go, a lot of retrofitting has to take place,” he stated. “Arawak needs a total re-haul to put on quality national events. It is just not up to the level that it should be. The facility is not ready to go, the lighting is not up to scratch, we are having a lot of issues trying to stage plays at the Arawak…”
He said something has to be done to the Arawak House of Culture “in quick time.”
“Technically the venue is just tired and somebody in Government need to get serious about the Arawak and as a playwright, I am not too sure about my future of staging plays if something isn’t done,” he said.
He lamented that there is no other venue on island where one can satisfactorily stage a high standard show.
“It is very difficult work,” Bruno noted. “There is no secret why it is only Alex Bruno and Steve Hyacinth who are in Dominica doing plays right now. That merely proves that it is not easy. The other fact about it is that the patronage sometimes dwindles. You do not see people readily rushing to see work that we do and that can be a little frustrating at times because I do not think the public have a true understanding of how difficult it is to put a stage play on.”
He is also appealing to the government to assist in supporting and promoting the Performing Arts on the island.
According to him the only assistance that The Hidden Treasures of Batibou received was that it was named the official play for Dominica Festivals of Arts (DOMFESTA).
“The government gives next to nothing to zero assistance. In terms of technical support, no, in terms of financial support, no…And I am calling on Government, please support the arts,” he stated.
He continued, “Our culture is not only when Independence time come around. The performing arts is part of our culture in a very big way and I think that as a country if we do not wake up soon enough, people like me will eventually get frustrated and say ‘you know what, if we cannot get people serious about our culture, it doesn’t make sense that I try to practice the culture.’ We are basically fighting a battle.”
Bruno revealed that plays take at least one year to put together and on average it costs EC$ 25,000 to produce and have a cast and crew of up to 25 people.
Well CULTURE die . just look at the old mill at Canefield , the stage there is a disaster for many years now. Look Carifesta is on and Govt. not sending nobody . them man not ready for the next level , they tired, the minister of culture although she from Grandbay , the capital of culture in dominica, don’t give old mill no money
who can I contact to sell me this building. ? And how much would such a building cost ?
why does Alex Bruno feel he can just tell the government what to do and when to do it . that man needs to learn his place and learn to do this . if you feel that a building that you use frequently for your shows and so fourth needs repairs you go about it for formal and proper way. that man need to learn some class
The last time that I checked, Alex Bruno is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and in case you do not know it the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica are employed by and works for the citizens. Alex Bruno therefore has every right afforded the citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica to make such demands on his government! Go check on your rights Janel Blanc…
Janel, stop and think, I’m sure your college years taught you to think first before you type.
the building is being taken care by a guvmnt agency. blind with hate much?
oh yess, he pays them, the guvment, to use the theatre.
sick people. yall need to lose your everyday life and compare. SMH
Alex, if the Arawak House of Culture is in disrepair, consult a local Architect and discuss your needs and plans. You might have to do some fund raising to pay the Professional, but at least you will have something to present to an interested party. There is no art without patronage. You need a patron – other than government.
Wait…does Bruno own Arawak? We saw what happened when people try to develop local spaces outside of the government. (LINDO PARK!)
We need to really clarify our roles and responsibilities in Dominica. One minute its don’t come to the gov’t for everything, the next is don’t do anything without the gov’t. Which way is what in this silly island? Everyone else seems to be progressing consistently while we keep trying to figure out the basics.
With all due respect to Alex, why does EVERYTHING have to be done by the Government? When you stage these plays and pull in a profit does the Government benefit? This business of staging a play is a private affair and so Alex and the others involved in the arts should take charge of the Arawak House of Culture and bring it up to par! Enough with the over-reliance on Government!!
On another note, I attended the play on Friday night. It was my first time attending one of Alex’s plays. I must say I had a blast!! It was quite funny and I encourage all Dominicans to support him by attending as well. Best wishes for the future to Alex, Steve and others in the business.
I am just wondering … hmmm… who owns the Arawack House of Culture?
Alex makes everything about politics! That’s the truth…
Alex u have been doing plays for a number of years.u said u did very well and didn’t lost any revenue.why don’t you u give some $ to help with the renovation of the arawak? It has to start somewhere,so let it with u n stop crying u guys want government to do everything and you are the ones benefiting,so is either u put up or shut up
Who do you think he pays for the use of the venue? Smart
Alex, you have a valid point. But the DAMN SAD thing is it is right across from the Financial Center and the PM sees it from his office.
Nothing/No one in Dominica is a priority… sad
Agree that the theatre needs revamping why not look at sponsors like the big money people in D A dont wsit on the government for everything. What about Linton your buddy he have money to stage street shows spend the money on the theatre.contact him let him show up the current government.
Labour ka traviel
Labour kaka twavay.
LOL I remember just a few years ago helping with an event held there, and everyone was concerened because a bat or two had taken up permanent residence. Aye Dominique!
Mr. Bruno…kudos to you sir, but if you take a look at the condition at some of our schools and health centres you’ll see that the arts may be way down our list for facility improvements. We need to funnel all our wealth into paying one man 360,000 a year to sit and look pretty. Thats almost $1,000 a day while the scum…sorry I mean common people spin in circles wondering why we continue to struggle/beg/plead for basic services.
OK MR ALEX Yea i think the government should help in all aspects of Dominica’s development because its part of their duties but i ask what about the local gov’t of the city of Roseau,what about u sir doing a play to raise funds that would be donated towards the Arawak …..what about you and the members of the play and anyone else willing to help do some volunteerism ,raise funds , have BBQs, organize a tour do something anything hold a raffle do something! to raise funds the gov’t cant do it alone and i’m not saying the government shouldn’t assist OK
Well then you should start a fundraiser Skerrit is using poor dominicans sweat and bllod to enrich himself that when he is done with this poor country not a tree will be able to grow.
There is a government ministry, a division of culture, the eyes and ears of those who frequent the financial centre, a permanent Secretary, and the list goes on, but to no avail Arawak House o Culture bleeds to death! Our priorities are all mixed up. Sociocultural endeavours need to be revamped.
Dear Mr Bruno, I can quite understand your plight, and that of others trying to acheive things of quality on island. But as far as Government is concerned, things of quality or class are not of importance. Do you know they think the Jazz n Creole is nonesense? Do you know it almost didnt happen this year? and that future events are in jeopardy? Do you know that every visitor who has been to that event thinks its fabulous……while we seem to think ‘wash your foot and come’ noise, loud rubbish is the way to go…….we really need smart, forward thinking, classy people in Government so that focus can be given to improving arts and culture and music on island. Stop calling all the emerging roadside bars development….please!!!!!!!!
No surprise, this govt. always caters for the lowest common denominator. That is fancy talk for keeping people poor, illiterate of world affairs and depending on hand outs so their votes are easy to harvest. God forbid, culture may enlighten the masses and endanger the Leader’s legacy of winnin elections. Too dangerous my friends.
Alex Roosevelt SKERRIT does not care about Dominica and Arts …………….So i wish you luck,just llok @ the condition @ the building sad
I agree with this view Mr. Bruno. It is just a great concern that in the heart of the city the House of Culture is in such a deplorable state. It really is the only one we have. I went to a play there some time last year and seats were condemned, and some that are not condemned are dangerous to seat to watch a play. I actually got cut from exposed metal on one of the chairs. The place was very hot and the few fans there were noisy. It is just so sad that we have to be so negligent with very important buildings; and the things that are not so important we place so much emphasis on them. I guess we will have to stop “waiting” on government to do everything. But still when you try to do something about it, they say they have bigger plans so we should not touch it. What can we do nah Alex, but just wait until they are ready for us? Sad but true. We are in a city and these things should be on the top of our list to make the city a city and not a shity, as Peter Tosh would say.
Well said Mr Bruno. I enjoyed the play.
Alex if you write a play about te hidden treasures of Pasport sles I wonder if the government will help. You won’t need to hire actors and actresses cause government tself can proved you with te rel characters.
See hw they Wooshtooshing money on passports. When one non elected official can deposit 1.4 million just like that on an oribsry day g figure hw much thse elected officials have deposited in offshore ank accounts.
I do support Alix on this one. That theatre is seriously outdated and I wonder if it even meets present-day safety regulations. Three -or four passport sales would go a long way to fix that |I reckon. Come on Mr. Nanthan, divert a little of that cash to our culture, for the benefit of our future adopted citizens too. It would give esteemed Leader a lot of Brownie points and he can do with some right now. After all, a country can not be that attractive if it has no decent House of Culture, and right opposite Govt. office as well.
NPSN(no passport sales necessary). De govahment just need to check china; Get a freeness money an fix de place. It’s a shame that this is what de house of culture turn too. Aa an meantime de minista of culture talking about demonic game.
You can all laugh but if you think culture in Dominica is only bouyon and a barbecued, hormone saturated chicken leg you have a very poor menu indeed. If we want to attract people to come and spend serious money here we have to go to the next level. You remember that slogan “next level”? What happened to it? The performance I saw from govt. in the parliament last week was definitely lower level. and not upper level.