On Monday, last at the Theatre Guild Playhouse in Kingston Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Frank Anthony presented a cheque to David de Caires, Chairman of the Trustees of the Theatre Guild as a contribution to the revival of the Theatre Guild.
De Caires thanked the Minister for this contribution and noted that the trustees had consulted Dr Anthony at an early stage in their project to raise funds to rehabilitate the playhouse.
The Minister had been fully supportive and had appeared at the fund raising telethon and had arranged certain concessions for the gala production of Miriamy staged by Mr Ron Robinson at the National Cultural Centre.
De Caires said that the revised budget is $45 million as the trustees have decided to sound proof and air condition the playhouse. Work on the building is well advanced and could be completed by the end of the year. An expert from Florida is due this week to advise on the sound and lighting equipment required which will then be purchased and installed as expeditiously as possible.
The Chairman expressed the hope that work would be completed by Mashramani, depending on how readily the equipment is available. He said that fund raising was continuing. In addition, all the paint had been donated by Continental Agencies and other companies had donated stone, hollow blocks and cement.
Minister Anthony ex-pressed full support for the project.
He urged companies which had not yet contributed to get on board and looked forward to the rebirth of a vibrant theatre in Guyana. He noted that this would be one of the prime venues for Carifesta in 2008 and recalled that in the old days the Guild had produced some of the leading theatrical performances, not only in Guyana but in the region. Also present at the ceremony were Major General (retd) Joe Singh and Vic Insanally, two members of the Board of Trustees.
