Tentastic Theatre Festival
10-Minute Theatrical Presentations
Dates
Saturday, May 31st, 2025
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
Sunday, June 1st, 2025
Show Times
Doors: 7:00 PM
Shows: 7:30 PM
Shows: 7:30 PM
Running Time
Approximately 2 hours each night
Location
Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts
University of the West Indies
Mona, Jamaica
University of the West Indies
Mona, Jamaica
Tickets
$2,000 JMD per night
($3,000 at the gate)
($3,000 at the gate)
What to Expect
- Opening tribute to Dr. Brian Heap with visual and audio presentation
- Experience the magic of storytelling in just 10 minutes
- Each night features unique performances
- Talented local playwrights and actors
- Diverse range of theatrical styles and themes
- Come both nights for double the excitement!
Important Information
Doors open: 30 minutes before showtime
Late arrivals: Will be seated at appropriate intervals
Photography: No flash photography or recording during performances
Programme
NIGHT 1 - MAY 31
~ INTERMISSION ~
15 minutes
NIGHT 2 - JUNE 1
~ INTERMISSION ~
15 minutes
Presenters
Desmond Dennis
An award-winning, Jamaican actor, writer, and director, Desmond brings over a decade of fearless storytelling to the table – blending the political with the poetic, and never shying away from the bold. His work is a masterclass in cultural reflection, identity, and power.
GiHRL
GiHRL is a multidimensional artist known for her work in acting, singing, and songwriting. With over 15 years in the theatre and film, she brings emotional depth and authenticity to every role. She is the 2024 winner of the prestigious Actor Boy Award for Best Supporting Actress and gained international acclaim for her powerful performance in HBO's Get Millie Black. As a singer-songwriter, her music reflects her roots and personal journey. Whether on stage, or behind the mic, GiHRL captivates audiences with a soulful energy that transforms every space she enters.
Gracia Thompson
Gracia Thompson is a dynamic writer, actor, director, and educator whose work has earned her multiple accolades, including two Actor Boy nominations and several awards for her writing and directing. Her commitment to nurturing talent is evident through the dynamic rise of the UTECH Players – a collective of students and co-curricular creatives who have graced stages from cultural Showcases to Evenings of Excellence and beyond.
Jean Small
Originally from Guyana, Jean Small is a seasoned French educator and theatre practitioner with over 60 years of experience. Her passion for both languages and performance began simultaneously, shaping a unique teaching style that blended theatre with language learning. Inspired by her secondary school French teacher, Jean began writing short dialogues and plays to help students practice communication, eventually creating the educational puppet series Puppets for Peace. In 1998, she wrote A Black Woman's Tale, based on her life, which was translated into French and performed in Paris, representing Jamaica. After retiring in 2002, she joined Toastmasters International, later developing a puppet persona, Mrs. Ida Martin, to continue her storytelling.
Jean-Paul A. Menou
An award-winning multi-hyphenate talent from St. Ann, Jean-Paul or JP, as he's affectionately known is a powerhouse in Jamaican arts and media. From acting and directing to journalism, television, and teaching, his influence spans generations and disciplines.
JP is no stranger to the stage, having co-founded the iconic 8x10 Short Play Festival at the Phillip Sherlock Centre and directed standout productions like A Midsummer Night's Dream and Anancy's Way. A beloved educator at EMCVPA, he has shaped countless young artists with his deep knowledge and magnetic energy.
You may also recognize him as the Quiz Master of Schools' Challenge Quiz or from his role in Get Millie Black on HBO. Whether behind a podium or in the director's chair, J-P brings insight, passion, and a sharp creative eye.
JP is no stranger to the stage, having co-founded the iconic 8x10 Short Play Festival at the Phillip Sherlock Centre and directed standout productions like A Midsummer Night's Dream and Anancy's Way. A beloved educator at EMCVPA, he has shaped countless young artists with his deep knowledge and magnetic energy.
You may also recognize him as the Quiz Master of Schools' Challenge Quiz or from his role in Get Millie Black on HBO. Whether behind a podium or in the director's chair, J-P brings insight, passion, and a sharp creative eye.
Jessica Shaw
A powerhouse in the Jamaican dance world, Jessica is a senior lecturer at the Edna Manley College School of Dance, Associate Artistic Director of L'ACADCO, and a level 6 L'Antech professor – the highest level of certification in this Afro-Caribbean technique. She's trained in classical ballet since the age of 3, holds a Master's in Dance Science and Education from the University of Edinburgh, and has been shaping Jamaica's dance landscape with her bold, genre-blending choreographic works.
Joel Miller
Joel Miller is an award-winning Jamaican playwright, director, and filmmaker whose work spans theatre, education, and cinema. His plays – rich with symbolism and emotional depth, explore Caribbean identity, trauma and the intimate intersections of family and society.
Kaleb D'Aguilar
Kaleb, who splits his time between London and Jamaica, brings his signature brilliance to the stage with a bold 10-minute theatrical presentation you do not want to miss. His work deeply rooted in themes of blackness, Caribbeanness, gender, and migration, has been featured everywhere from American Airlines to the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Kaleb is a filmmaker, poet and, and a visionary who continues to redefine storytelling in the Caribbean.
Kaleb is a filmmaker, poet and, and a visionary who continues to redefine storytelling in the Caribbean.
Maylynne Lowe
Trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Emerson College, she's worked with some of the island's most iconic theatre houses; Jambiz, Basil Dawkins, DMH Productions, University Players and more. Many know her as Tanya Blackburn from Jamaica's longest-running soap opera.
An award-winning talent with a passion for performance and storytelling, Maylynne brings grace, grit, and experience to every role.
An award-winning talent with a passion for performance and storytelling, Maylynne brings grace, grit, and experience to every role.
Rayon McLean
Rayon McLean is a theatre director, writer, and actor, and the Artistic Director of Quilt Performing Arts Company. Known for his innovative storytelling, he directed the acclaimed musical drama Re'Ashored (2020), which earned 15 Actor Boy Award nominations. A Goldsmiths, University of London graduate in applied theatre, McLean's work emphasizes cultural themes and inclusivity. He has also acted in Yardie (2018) and directed the short film Proscenium (2015), while mentoring young artists.
Renae Williams
Renae Williams is an award-winning playwright, director, and actress with over a decade of experience in the creative arts. Passionate about storytelling, she's written and directed plays—often for charitable causes—that highlight real-life experiences and amplify unheard voices. Her work spans stage and film, enriched by her background in acting, and she also writes poetry and prose to inspire and engage audiences.
The Team
The Team
Nadean Rawlins
Festival Co-Director
Shantol Jackson
Festival Co-Director
Desmond Dennis
Artistic Director
Jayda Pitter
Festival Administrator
Nicole March
Design
Julene Robinson
Production Support
Brian Johnson
Production Support
Coleen Kerr-Roache
Box Office
Presented By
Raw Management Limited
Production Company
Prunella Productions Limited
Production Company
Tentastic Theatre Festival is brought to you by these dynamic production companies committed to showcasing theatrical talent and providing platforms for innovative storytelling.
With Thanks To
MegaMart
Proudly Supporting Jamaican Arts and Culture
Tentastic Theatre Festival is dedicated to showcasing theatrical talent and providing a platform for innovative storytelling. We thank you for your support and hope you enjoy these bite-sized theatrical experiences!
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