Meet the NTAC Players
RESIDENT PLAYERS
Syntyche Bishop is a recent graduate of the University of the West Indies with a BA in Theatre Arts. As a child she was enrolled in music classes for piano, which further developed into voice/vocal training with Yvonne Suite. Being a member of the Suite Chorale, a community choir based in Princes Town, she had the privilege of going on two Belizean tours in 2007 and 2012, and participated in Trinidad San Fest and Music Festival where she was awarded certificates of excellence. She was given the opportunity to choreograph for the Suite Chorale and while on tour received a Belizean award for dance and choreography.
Her first venture into Theatre was in 2011 when she first started her degree at the University of the West Indies where she acted in student productions such as ‘Androcles and the Lion’, ‘Oedipus Rex’, and ‘Lysistrata. ‘Maria Antonia’ was a student production in which she played the lead role – Maria Antonia.
She has since ventured into working with other production companies such as JCS Entertainment and Raymond ChooKong Productions, where she was part of the casts of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Diary of a Bad Red Woman” respectively.
Lalonde Jay Lalonde Ochoa, a graduate of UWI’s BA Theatre Arts, was not only the recipient of First class Honors but was awarded the Earl Warner prize for “Best Theatre Arts Degree Student” for 2013-2014.
His primary experience is in acting and directing but he has also filled the role of playwright and stage manager on various occasions. His most recent work includes the dissection of classical theatre scripts for expression through local traditional forms (festivals, mas and folk).
Lalonde is also well-versed in improvisational work, workshop facilitation and educative theatre. His passion for art and culture is undoubted, and he is determined to further the work and investigations carried out by the likes of Errol Hill, Derek Walcott, Rawle Gibbons and many others, which search for the establishment of a national drama/ theatre.
Born in Port of Spain Trinidad in 1977, Marvin Dowridge, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, attained a certificate in Dance and Dance education and a Degree in Theatre Arts. He best describes himself as a performing artist with the ability to perform across three key disciplines: music, dance and acting.
Dowridge gained some of his most influential stage experience under the baton of late Dr Pat Bishop, where he was given the opportunity not only to sing but to dance for one of the choir’s most recognized Operatic performances ‘Orpheus and Eurydice’.
In 2006, Dowridge auditioned for his first theatre production, The Bagasse Company’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and was cast in the role of an Apostle. A budding director, he has held leading and supporting roles in plays and musicals. Some of his most recognized work includes:
- Lead Role – Symour Krelborn in Proscenium Theatre Company’s ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’ (2012)
- Supporting Role – Pappy Mammy in The 3Canal Production ‘Jammit’ (2013)
- Lead Role – Pastor Franky Lourve in the 3Canal Production (2015)
Dowridge has also served as a cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, as a dancer at two major festivals: ‘El Cobre Fire Festival’ in Cuba 2011 and Carifesta in Suriname 2013.
Kimberly Jones graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of the West Indies and a minor in Cultural Studies. Her passion lies in the realm of acting and directing, which began in with her involvement in Drama at secondary school.She has directed plays such as “Fat Chance” (a UWI Creative Arts Department Directing II production 2011) and “Games” which made it to the finals of Secondary Schools Drama Festival in 2008. Kimberly’s stage credits are numerous and include: 2012/2013
- “Eric The Musical” – Iere Theatre Productions Ltd.
- “Hairspray” and “Crazy for You”- Must Come See Productions
- “A Brighter Sun” – Iere Theatre Productions Ltd.
- “Belle Fanto” by Iere Theatre Productions Ltd.
- “50/25” by Arts In Action Wordsmiths
2014
- “The League and the Lime” – Artspire Productions
- “Curious Cat” and “A Fairy Comess” – AH PEELIN FEELINGS Playback Theatre Company
- “Sundar” by Iere Theatre Productions Ltd.
Kimberly’s industry pursuits also span modelling and the UWI Arts Chorale. Some of her accomplishments include receiving the N.Y.A.C. Top 20 stars of Tomorrow Drama Award (2012) and the Beryl McBurnie Award for most All-Round Student (2013) awarded by the Faculty of Humanities and Education, UWI, St. Augustine. She hopes to pursue a masters degree in performance in the near future.
Tafar Chia Lewis started writing poetry and monologues at a tender age for school competitions. At eleven, she ventured into doing missionary work through the use of Theatre and fell in love. She has studied Theatre at the University of the West Indies and was involved with various companies such as Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Mt. D’or Cultural Performers. Tafar also has television show credits for two shows featured on the local Gayelle Channel for a number of years.
APPRENTICE PLAYERS
Adam Leigh Pascall has been involved in the Performing Arts for the past nineteen (19) years. He has always been passionate about anything cultural and creative. Born on the 3rd of January 1981 in a place called Trou-macaque in Laventille, Trinidad, he connected to the drums of our traditions and culture at the age of 13 and found himself dancing, which came naturally to him. His community identified his talent and supported and motivated him to continue dancing. The following year, he won his first national title in folk dance in 1995, he won this title several times, and so his journey began.
Starting as a dancer, Adam later began playing drums, singing and acting. He specialisation was traditional and creative folk dance and later he was exposed to modern and jazz dance. He is presently training and performing West African dance with Wasafoli Trinidad and Tobago West African Folk Performing Company. Adam is also a choreographer and has worked with several groups and projects with a focus on Trinidadian culture and dance.
He has enjoyed the opportunity of collaborating with two international dance workshops and cultural exchanges held in Trinidad and Tobago; one of which was with Brazilian world renowned choreographer, Rosangela Sylvestry, who developed her own Sylvestry dance technique, and the other, with the American Artistic Director of ASE Dance Company, Adia Whittaker, who specialises in Haitian folkloric dance culture and contemporary forms.
Adam’s experience has also extends to background vocalist and choral singing for Ella Andell’s albums; Oriki Shango Baba Wa – in 2004 and Osain Ade – in 2009 and teaching traditional and creative folk dance and song through the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism’s Best Village Program. Adam is writing a book and recording a documentary on the aesthetics of the Yoruba Orisha traditions of Trinidad and Tobago translated into performance art, as well as he is developing a contemporary form and dance technique of Orisha dance and performance.
With discipline and humility Adam hopes to continue his growth in the Performing Arts. He is committed to the development of his various crafts in order to represent and preserve the culture of Trinidad and Tobago.
Anand Lawkran is a performer, recording artist and cultural activist. In 2012, he obtained a distinction from the Necessary Arts Drama Workshop. He has performed notable roles in films such as ‘The Silver Dollar’, ‘The Nokka Wheel’ and ‘Scandalous’. He has a wealth of experience as a producer and presenter of Music and Talk Show Radio Programmes on U975FM Hot like Pepper Radio, Heritage Radio 101.7FM, Radio Shakti 97.5FM and Masala Radio 101.1FM. He conceptualized and founded the Drishti Tassa Group of Visually Impaired Players. Anand also functions as a Master of Ceremonies at events such as concerts and weddings.
Singer-songwriter Shivonne Churche-Isaacs started performing at the tender age of 5. She starred in her first play “Christmas on Sesame Street ” where she played the role of Oscar the Grouch. She participated in calypso competitions, was a member of school choirs and choral speaking groups representing her schools Sacred Heart Girls RC, Woodbrook Secondary and Trinzuela Vocational College. With the sobriquet “Lil Bitts” because of her small stature, Shivonne sang both Calypso and Soca for many years. In 2004, she had her first soca hit single, a collaboration with Bunji Garlin ‘In My Country.’ In the following year she released more music including soca parang single, ‘Esta Fiesta’. Shivonne has been a finalist in the International Soca Monarch 3 times and has travelled all over the world representing her country performing soca music.
She began her Associate Degree in Performing Arts Music and had a successful season of a weekly show called ‘Muzik Iz Life’ showcasing local talent doing different genres of music and poetry. Shivonne’s journey with the National Theatre Arts Company began in 2014 after being shortlisted after nationwide auditions.
Fabrice Barker started his arts career as first tenor and head of the Rosary Boys Choir. At Tranquility Secondary he continued as a first tenor and was also a member of the school’s Drama Club. After graduating from Tranquility Secondary School, Fabrice decided to join one of the country’s Best Village performance groups, where he sang, danced, and acted. Fabrice tells us: “At first, persons could not believe how light I was on my feet; it was there the magic happened.” Fabrice fell in love with theater and in his spare time he pursued Theatre Arts studies with the Necessary Arts School where he graduated with a distinction in acting. After several years, Fabrice was highly recommended by dramatist Delores Alexander, to Director Davlin Thomas, with a request that he audition for Davlin’s play ‘El Cero Del Aripo.’ It is here that Fabrice went on to play his first major leading role. Fabrice has featured in some of Trinidad and Tobago’s top plays and films; in 2013 he performed in Necessary Arts’ production ‘Zuri’, in 2012 he acted in Richard Ragoobarsing’s play ‘Eat Ah Food’ and in Entertainment One’s movie ‘Home Again’. Fabrice is also a familiar industry face in areas such a commercial “voice-overs”, television advertisements and direction of film productions.