The Liberian and American firm of “200 Years” on Providence Island simply earlier than the present.
Theatre and historical past collided in a latest collaboration between Burning Barriers Building Bridges (B4) Youth Theatre in Liberia and the museum theatre division of Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest American dwelling historical past museum. The West African nation of Liberia was established by free and lately emancipated Black Americans in 1822. To commemorate the bicentennial of that founding, B4 Youth Theatre got here collectively final summer season and fall with artists from Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia to create a chunk of theatre referred to as 200 Years of Returns, which was carried out on Liberia’s Providence Island on Dec. 18, 2022.
While Colonial Williamsburg focuses on a interval of U.S. historical past that predates Liberia’s nationwide trendy founding by greater than 50 years, the shared histories of enslavement and freedom between the United States and Liberia made this a pure connection. Black American actors nicely versed in staging scenes from the time of slavery on U.S. soil had the exceptional and resonant alternative to deliver these tales and experiences to the continent not solely of their ancestors but in addition of the characters they typically painting.
The ensemble for 200 Years was constructed nearly between two continents over the course of two years. The collaborators met for the primary time in individual in June 2022, when the B4 crew from Liberia and dancers from Angels of Praise Dance Ministry in Baltimore, Md., traveled to Williamsburg to additional develop the play. The crew bid farewell to 1 one other on American soil on the finish of July, getting ready to fulfill once more in December in Liberia to carry out.
The following is a number of journal entries written by members of the U.S.-based collaboration crew as they documented the expertise of performing 200 Years of Returns in Liberia final December.
Dec. 12, 2022: On the Plane
Jamar Jones, actor, Colonial Williamsburg: God needs us collectively. We have endured a worldwide pandemic, displacements, the uncertainties of life, and but right here we’re! The sky is darkish but vibrant. The gentle can be there to welcome us to the land from whence our ancestors got here. Asé.
Deirdre Jones Cardwell, actor, Colonial Williamsburg: I’m awake as we strategy the Motherland. There are rainbows within the sky! Good morning, Africa! I believe you possibly can love a spot you’ve by no means been. I’m enthusiastic about the journeys by boat of our ancestors who’ve traveled throughout the Atlantic earlier than me, some by selection, and so many by drive.
Dec. 13, 2022: Libassa Ecolodge, Liberia
Katrinah Carol Lewis, inventive director, director, actor, Colonial Williamsburg: I’m in Liberia, ready for the others to reach. Tomorrow we’ll start our rehearsal course of to current 200 Years on Providence Island, the place the Black Americans first settled right here. I spent the day engaged on my strains. Reading the phrases that we wrote brings up quite a lot of emotions now that I’m right here. I’m very conscious of the historic trauma I carry.
Dec. 14, 2022: Monrovia, Day One of Rehearsal
Deirdre: We made it to Liberia! Walking onto Providence Island for the primary time, I used to be full of quite a lot of ideas and emotions. Uncertainty, curiosity, pleasure….
Katrinah: When we bought into the efficiency area, I used to be a bit overwhelmed. There is a concrete stage with a really unpleasant backdrop that’s falling aside, with some previous bows affixed at random locations. We have 4 days to strengthen our ensemble, block this new model of our present, incorporate the dance components, and procure set items and props. I’m feeling the stress, however now we have an ideal crew.
Markya Reed, analysis assistant, University of Maryland, Baltimore County: At the tip of the day, Katrinah (co-director), Jasmine (co-director), and Elliott (choreographer) allowed me to sit down in on their assembly. They mentioned how they might stage the play and what props they wanted. It was the duty of Joyce (one other analysis assistant) to seek out these things: 5 benches, one desk, 5 chairs, two drums, one bucket, one pitcher, 4 cups, one scarf, a strolling stick, a pamphlet fabricated from previous paper, and two authorized papers.
Dec. 15, 2022: Day Two of Rehearsal
Katrinah: Today we’ll stage the play. We want to maneuver shortly; now we have an viewers in three days. We bought began late, which makes my anxiousness spike huge time. But time strikes in another way right here—every part is a little more relaxed, a bit much less structured than what I’m used to. For instance, there aren’t any actual site visitors lanes on the streets, the vehicles transfer in between these “keh-kehs” (lined motorbikes) and bikes. The sound of automobile horns beeping jogs my memory of New York City, besides right here it doesn’t really feel like aggression or highway rage—just a bit beep to say, “I’m here, I’m behind you, on your left, on your right.” The chaos strikes collectively in a means that I’ll always remember.
Markya: Katrinah retains calling for firm breaths and I low-key love that. We don’t have the drums but, so Silas (B4 actor) and Jeremy (CW actor) are improvising with water bottles for now. The Liberian News Agency got here and interviewed the crew. We ended up getting 8,000 views on Facebook by the primary night time! (Over 60,000 views now!)
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The forged and authors of “Created Equal” at Colonial Williamsburg: Katrinah Carol Lewis, Jamar Jones, Deirdre Jones Cardwell, and Jeremy V. Morris. -
Members of B4 Youth Theatre and Colonial Williamsburg construct ensemble in Williamsburg in July. -
Dr. Jasmine Blanks Jones main dialogue in Williamsburg. -
The “200 Years of Returns” firm with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Liberian president and the primary lady elected head of state in Africa. -
A rehearsal for “200 Years of Returns” in Liberia with Jalen Rose, Elliot Jones, Joshua Jimmy, Jeremy Morris, Nika Brunson, Jeanette Johnson, Dr. Jasmine Blanks Jones, Hannah Nentakpeh McKay, Emara Brunson, and Katrinah Carol Lewis. -
Dr. Jasmine Blanks Jones, Jalen Rose, Deirdre Jones Cardwell, Jamar Jones, Amari Grant, and Katrinah Carol Lewis in rehearsal for “200 Years of Returns.” -
Jeremy Morris and firm in “200 Years of Returns.” -
Hannah Nentakpeh McKay and Jebbeh Cole in “200 Years of Returns.” -
Deirdre Jones Cardwell and Jamar Jones in “200 Years of Returns.” -
Katrinah Carol Lewis in “200 Years of Returns.” -
Christophus Alorcious Suah, Joshua Jimmy, Silas N. Juaquellie, and Hannah Nentakpeh McKay in “200 Years of Returns.” -
Silas Jacqueille and the corporate of “200 Years of Returns.”
Dec. 16, 2022: Day Three of Rehearsal
Katrinah: Yesterday we staged half of the play. It’s coming collectively, I believe. I’m feeling stress—not from anybody else, however from myself to arrange us to share one thing that we’ll be happy with in two days!
Markya: I awakened sick this morning from consuming an excessive amount of pepper final night time. Deirdre bought me drugs and took care of me. I began to really feel nearer to her and the Williamsburg of us.
Deirdre: We have lots to do earlier than Sunday! I simply pray God continues to bless this numinous expertise.
Katrinah: We have props and higher lighting! The crew labored collectively to take away the unpleasant bows from the backdrop, repair the holes, and cling a beautiful nation fabric as a focus within the middle of the drop. Things are coming collectively.
Deirdre: Learning about Liberia provides me a better appreciation of my first journey to Africa. Will this be my final? I wished to go to Ghana to see “slave castles,” however God led me to a spot the place Blacks went to hunt freedom, as a substitute of a spot the place they misplaced it.
Dec. 17, 2022: Day Four of Rehearsal
Deirdre: Katrinah requested me to guide a libation ceremony at this time. I’m nervous. I need everybody to really feel included.
Markya: Deirdre led us by way of pouring libation. Everyone circled up on the entrance of Providence Island under the large cotton tree. There have been tears whereas we poured choices to the ancestors. It was at this level that I felt most linked to the crew.
Katrinah: Today we placed on our Colonial Williamsburg costumes for the primary time since being right here. When I placed on [the character] Lydia’s garments, I bought very emotional. Lydia was born enslaved, bought her freedom in her 40s and lived in Virginia her entire life—and now 200 years later her story can be advised on African soil.
Jamar: I’m enthusiastic about the historic figures now we have portrayed for quite a few years in Williamsburg, Va. We have served as faces and voices for these historic figures on the land wherein they have been enslaved. And now we’re telling their tales away from the gaze of an actor portraying a white enslaver or a predominantly white viewers. It’s a large idea that I’m wrestling with in my thoughts.
Dec. 18, 2022: First Performance
Katrinah: It’s the day of the present y’all!
Markya: Lots of people have been drained from the lengthy days of rehearsal and a few partying final night time, but in addition excited to share what now we have been engaged on. We arrange viewers chairs and did remaining changes to the stage. We practiced within the morning, after which returned for the ultimate efficiency that night.
Katrinah: We did it! Together we advised a narrative about enslaved and free Black individuals within the U.S. and Liberia that was 200 years within the making. The home was small. The World Cup remaining was that night, and regardless of rigorous advertising efforts from the Liberia crew, cultivating a big Liberian viewers for a theatre piece is tough. But isn’t that additionally true for a lot of nonprofit theatres within the States? Those who have been within the viewers have been invested, they leaned in, they went with us on a journey of returns from Virginia to Liberia and again once more. I used to be glad.
Deirdre: Thank you, Lord, for bringing us by way of our present. I believe it was lovely. Praise the Lord!
After performing “200 Years of Returns” on Providence Island, the crew had adventures collectively for one more 4 days. Highlights included assembly Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the previous president of Liberia and first elected lady head of state of an African nation; performing Colonial Williamsburg’s one-act play Created Equal, adopted by excerpts from 200 Years of Returns and a significant dialogue at Bong County Technical College; and bonding with each other at Kpatawee waterfall and within the houses of the Liberian ensemble members.
Jamar Jones summed up the expertise this manner:
“The best present was to be in group with artists stateside and from Liberia. We fellowshipped and discovered from each other. We developed a collaborative and inventive language to plan a theatrical expertise to share. I used to be invigorated as an artwork maker and inspired as a citizen of the globe.
“I marvel on the energy of theatre. It permits us to share and see.
As I stood within the water, I felt sturdy. I felt grounded. I felt like I belonged. I relished the communal expertise of constructing artwork with individuals who shortly grew to become household. We took an opportunity, compiled our concepts, and had an expertise. An expertise that has clung near my spirit and my coronary heart since I departed.”
The Colonial Williamsburg expertise contains greater than 600 restored or reconstructed authentic buildings from 18th-century Virginia, in addition to museums of ornamental arts and people artwork, and in depth academic outreach packages for college students and lecturers. Burning Barriers Building Bridges (B4) Youth Theatre, established in 2010, has reached 1000’s of youngsters throughout 5 of Liberia’s 15 counties by way of arts training programming and performances.
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