Artistic Director Mariatha Causway also known as Jennifer Thomas has been following her passion for the performing arts for more than two decades, and views it as a means of escape and adventure into a whole new world.
Collecting her award for artistic directing at the Theatre Guild Awards 2010
The bubbly director, in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine said she grew up in Georgetown and attended the Fountain AME nursery and primary schools and later St Winifred’s Primary. After graduation she attended South Georgetown School but after that school closed its doors, all the students were transferred to schools closest to their homes. Causway was transferred to North Ruimveldt Multilateral.
When asked why she comes under the alias of ‘Jennifer Thomas’, she smilingly revealed that it is her other personality, and also she likes the name.
Her love for acting started at a very young age. She used it as a way of getting her older brothers and sisters’ attention.
“I think I was a quiet child,” she remarked jokingly. “I’m the last of seven and because being the last and small one, I was always trying to grab my brothers and sisters attention.
I think that’s one of the reasons I became an actress, because as simple as saying my alphabet, it had to be an act to grab their attention,” she revealed.
Causway’s interest in theatre developed as a little girl in primary school. She begged her mother to attend the Theatre Guild but her mother saw it best for her to finish off her primary and secondary schooling before signing up.
Jennifer performing on stage
“After CXC exams, my mother said it was the right time for me to go. It was an impatient wait but I was happy I got the chance to be part of the Theatre Guild.
At the age of 15, she joined the Theatre Guild and said she felt at “home”, where she was spiritually attracted to and was able to express herself, which was freeing for her.
“I learnt my craft at the Liberty Cinema where my brothers, sisters and I were only allowed to go. There I observed how Indian actresses would go into different roles effortlessly. This has helped me in my acting career and even now when I need inspiration I watch an Indian movie,” she said.
“My first production I acted in was directed by Francis Quamina Faria and was called ‘Play Mas’. He was a relentless director whom I learnt from now that I’m a director myself. For that play I had recited my lines and another actress’ lines and when she couldn’t make it to do the play I was placed in her space,” she mentioned.
As a result of proving herself as an adept actress, Causway was on her journey of becoming a celebrated theatre personality.
Her second play performance was called ‘The Vigil’ and was directed by Ronald Hollingsworth. That performance won for her, her first award as best supporting actress in 1992. Her directing aspect of her theatre life arose when she was asked to be an acting coach at CARIFESTA X in 2008.
“CARIFESTA X artistic director Dr Paloma Mohamed asked me to be one of the acting coaches for the Technical Theatre course, and this sparked an interest in directing. I was responsible for over 200 persons who wanted to learn acting. It was me and some other actors who were acting coaches and when they couldn’t make it to the classes I had to take the reins. It was sometimes overwhelming and was my biggest challenge, but I got through successfully. This propelled me into directing. A lot of work goes into directing. I read the script from all perspectives. It’s a fulfilling experience for me and very exhilarating,” she disclosed.
She later directed ‘The Vigil’, ‘Massacuraman’ written by Paloma Mohamed, ‘Shoes Blues’ by Michael Duff, ‘Somebody Gon Horn Yu’ by Fitzroy Tyrrell and ‘Every Time I Feel De Spirit’ by Raschid Osman.
‘Watch de Ride’ was her biggest production because she was directing the biggest cast in all her years as artistic director.
‘Watch de Ride’ was written by Ronald Hollingsworth and received awards for the best Guyanese Play and Best Set for the play in 1995. Causway was able to beautifully capture the story on stage; she also had a fantastic cast to work with: a group of veterans and newcomers who delivered on a level rarely seen in local theatre.
In 1995, she also acted in ‘Ecstasy’ directed by Ron Robinson. Her performance in this play won her the Best Actress award. The Jamaican play is based on a woman who started from nothing and elevated herself.
Causway loves acting and directing plays with themes related to women empowerment and spreading awareness of social issues.
With a notable reputation as a prolific actress and director, Causway decided to form her own company, Horizon Arts Production in 2009. It was formed along with theatre veterans Sheron Cadogan-Taylor (producer/ director), Lionel Whyte (treasurer/ director) and George Braithwaite (secretary/ director).
Through the production company, they were able to take the play ‘Somebody Gon Horn Yuh’ countrywide. ‘Somebody Gon’ Horn Yuh’, written by Trinidadian Fitzroy Tyrrell, is described as a drama that also includes humour to really get the audience involved.
The story looks at difficult relationships, and the degree to which some men would go to control the women in their lives, and how women get caught up in relationships that are dominated by men. Later, an offer to take the same play to Antigua came up, which was a successful venture.
Presently, Causway is in the process of writing the script of her play ‘Front Yard’. She mentioned it is not an easy task writing a script, but she knows the plot because it is an experience close to her heart and so that will guide her in completing it. Additionally, she is working on producing ‘Watch de Ride 2’ and also productions on Carol Bascom’s plays. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
