Theatre
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 1979.
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The Cultural Sub-Committee of the Department of Health, Education and Social Services has been set up to consider and advise the Government on such matters as the development of proper sporting facilities, the Smith Road grounds, and a cultural centre. Presumably this latter would include a national theatre.
There are some in the community who feel that the Drama Society's determination to go ahead with the construction of its own theatre might fragment the efforts of the Government in its wider stride towards a national theatre, especially since both the Cultural Sub-Committee and the Drama Society must both appeal either directly or indirectly to the public for funds.
There are others who are of the opinion that although well-intended, the Government's plans for a national theatre are too far-fetched for the Drama Society's immediate need for storing, rehearsing and staging facilities.
Some say the aims of both groups are conflicting. Others say they are not.
And so the whole affair has become a merry-go-round, with some aboard and others hovering above the on-off switch and yet others standing apart from the fray but nevertheless involved in a duece of a lot of talking. It is unfortunate that the situation has arisen. Unfortunate because confrontations on crucially necessary issues tend to draw attention away from those issues and to the confrontations themselves. Unfortunate, again, because there appears to be honest, honourable intentions on both sides.
It is mostly unfortunate, however, because as sure as night follows day the action of those who voted for the construction of a little theatre will be interpreted and publicised as being against the common good. Already about the town the cries of "enemies of the people" are beginning to drone on like tragic Ibsen climaxes. Most, most unfortunate.
We are a small community whose social successes are nourished from infancy by a community togetherness, by an avoidance of clashes, and by a steady dedication to the ageless principle of the greatest good for the greatest number.
Regardless of what the Cayman Drama Society - a group of private individuals - does on behalf of its own perpetuation, the national effort is a separate and larger affair. The attitudes and charitable inclinations of CDS members must be harnessed by the Cultural Sub-Committee regardless of what the Society does on its own.
More than all this, we must be careful - nay, vigilantly positive - that in our noble thrusts for what it is good for the greatest number we do not even tacitly interfere with the non-conflicting virtue of personal free-will.
The urgent need for a national theatre is not a football. Let nobody kick it.
