Writer and now producer and director Esther Sobers after much deliberation is bringing Hidden Treasures to television, the first ever puppet show to be aired in Guyana.
Hidden Treasures is a puppet show designed especially for children to teach them the English language, current affairs and a bit of our culture.
In a sit-down with The Scene Esther allowed us a sneak-peak of the upcoming Christmas show and shared with us what Hidden Treasures is all about.
Esther had always loved reading and by age 13, she began writing gospel songs which were sang by other members from her church. This led to her being nicknamed ‘The Psalmist’ by her pastor Kwame Wilson. “He always encouraged me and other young people in the church to live a purposeful life,” she said. From writing songs, Esther went on to write short stories in high school and after a short break continued when she finished school.
“I’d read to my mother who said my stories were interesting and who always encouraged me to write more,” she said.
She went on to teach at Ace Academy for 10 years, but even after she resigned the desire to teach children especially in the literacy area, was still alive. Still a teacher today she teaches after school classes for slow learners from the nursery level up, from 2 in the afternoons until 5.30. Her little school is called Hidden Treasures.
According to Esther, through her years of teaching she has had to become innovative in her activities to help them to learn and overtime she realized that children learned faster when activities were fun. Not wanting to just be limited to helping her children and wanting a larger audience she began devising plans to do so.
“Growing up I enjoyed watching Sesame Street and the Muppets and realized how much fun learning was just looking at the shows and so I came up with the idea of puppets. I want Hidden Treasures to be just as fun and educational but at the same time recognizing our Guyanese culture,” she said.
She went on to list the main characters of the show and their traits.
“Mr Lee is a Chinese businessman who came to Guyana to open the first ever word shop. He’s a peculiar Chinese man who teaches the French, Portuguese and Spanish languages. He even has a special lay-away plan for those wanting to learn the languages.
“Ess is the host of the Hidden Treasures show and uses her voice to express her feelings through her singing.
“Tot Harris – he’s from the United Kingdom but is based in Guyana and is a news anchor. He’s a bit eccentric and reads for the news, ‘It Must Be True So It Makes News.’
“Professor Grumps is a retired English professor whose aim is to help his students make use of the English Language and hates short-hand texting. He teaches persons through a TV programme called ‘LOL’ (Lazy on Language).
“And Delroy – he’s mischievous and always finds himself in trouble.”
Though there are a few other puppets, the ones she listed will make their debut on the Christmas Day show.
Esther has been working tediously and closely with a local artist (name undisclosed) who’s responsible for making the puppets.
The Christmas Day show is a prelude to a complete production of Hidden Treasures and Esther said it is expected to be on air in four months’ time. Once on the ball gets rolling, Hidden Treasures will be aired once a week for the entire season. Esther is also closely working with local actors in making the show a success.
Speaking to parents Esther said, “The puppets will be able to edify children in a way parents or teachers may not even be able to get something over to them. Children learn easier watching cartoons and in this instance, puppets. They’re easily engaged when learning becomes fun and interesting. This show deals only with facts.”
However, Esther is challenged financially and invites sponsors to get on board. “It’s going to be something unique, local, educational and fun. It’s going to be worthwhile and will be the new addictive learning show for kids so get on board and as we try to reach kids all over Guyana.”
”I hope in the future Hidden Treasures will become a successful show locally and internationally. I hope to see Hidden Treasures become well established and become even better than Sesame Street and we’d we able to say ‘Is we own’.
“As a teacher sometimes stern or jovial to my students I try my best to give each and every one of them my best. As teachers we ought to remember to not just be good teachers but the best we can possibly be, by giving our children the best and quality education they need despite their race or backgrounds. So with that I understand the importance of delivering only the best to students because education plays a vital role in determining their future.”
A favourite quote of hers is by Les Brown: ‘Life has no limitations except the ones you make’.
“I listen to him so often and I think everyone should because we all have a purpose in life we need to fulfil,” she said. “Many people—including myself at one point—just live, playing it safe… doing the normal things: wake up, work, eat, repeat. You limit the potential that you have because of the fear of failure but life didn’t come with an instruction manual on how one should live, that’s why we need to stop having doubts about what really we are put on earth for and start finding our purpose in life; stop committing suicide when we’re supposed to be helping each other; stop allowing others to determine our future.”
It is Esther’s fervent hope that Hidden Treasures not only edifies children but gives others the chance in helping them.
When not working, she enjoys cooking, going on adventures, reading, lots of writing of short stories and songs. She hates it when people forget their roots, where they would have come from, and suddenly think themselves above others because they’re making more money or have migrated from Guyana.
In addition she said, “I would like to thank Ron Robinson for believing in my creativity…and having some of my puppets featured in his Stretched-out Magazine. He is the person I would go to for his opinion on my script writing. Thank you also to [Deputy] Mayor Sherod Duncan for endorsing my project and for allowing me to use him in a video shoot.”
The main actors are: Mark Kazim as Mr Lee, Jamella Braithwaite as Ess, Jermaine Grimmond as Professor Grumps and Neville Ramkisson as Delroy.
The Hidden Treasures Christmas Day feature will be aired on Safe TV (Channel 2) at 12 pm and on HJTV (Channel 72) and 102 (time still to be decided).
For more information on other airings and to see some of the Hidden Treasures video clips find Esther on Facebook as Esther Sobers.
