With the COVID guidelines restricting persons gathering for the purpose of entertainment, Nothing To Laugh About is one of a number of productions anticipated by Guyanese that has been halted. However, during the last several months, Signature Productions has been treating fans to video snippets of the show.
Signature Productions is also responsible for other popular shows: Uncensored, Love and Laughter (produced by Mark Kazim), Sauce It Up, Loli (produced by Mark Kazim), and Red Events (which was formed for a Valentine’s Show but now hosts other events).
Principals of Signature Productions, Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones and his wife Maria shared that noting all the restrictions that came with the pandemic, they began constantly uploading videos for fans on Facebook and YouTube. Maria uploads the video several times a week. Both Facebook and YouTube she said are monetized and though that does not provide as much financially, it still helps.
The videos are sponsored by KFC, MVP Sports, Urban Life, Champion Chowmein and Superbet. Though the majority of the videos are excerpts from previous shows, some recent ones were produced based on trending topics. They are all uploaded in parts except for Uncensored and their recent Christmas Show. Maria said that as a result of these sponsors, her actors and actresses are benefitting from these sponsorships. “It is not what we’re used to, but it is still a form of income which we are grateful for,” Maria said.
She noted that even before COVID when they presented shows in a physical setting, actors and actresses were required to have other jobs as theatre does not pay enough to take care of a family, mortgage, bills and all other expenses. However for producers like herself, there is no time to do another job as they spend months working on new plays.
The feedback, she said, has been overwhelming as fans are looking forward to these regular uploads. If she is ever late in uploading the videos, persons are quick to inbox and inquire. She pointed out that recently the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports sponsored a Social Unity show at the National Cultural Centre. Only the artistes physically attended, while the audience viewed from the comfort of their homes. Maria is beseeching the ministry to remember the rest of the theatre arts and allow them to host similar shows for fans.
For Signature Production shows, check out YouTube and Tik Tok @Signature Comedy and Instagram and Facebook @Nothing To Laugh About.
