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The Marionettes Chorale, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious performing arts ensembles, announces its highly anticipated annual Christmas concert series scheduled for December 5-7 at Queen’s Hall’s Winifred Atwell Auditorium. This cherished holiday tradition promises to deliver musical excellence through three public performances and an exclusive matinée dedicated to care home residents.

Under the artistic direction of Gretta Taylor, Joshua Joseph, and guest conductor Dr. Nathan Nagir—a Trinidad and Tobago-born musician and Texas State University faculty member—the chorale will present a diverse repertoire spanning traditional carols, classical pieces, gospel arrangements, musical theater selections, calypso rhythms, and parang music. The program showcases both the adult and youth choirs alongside acclaimed soloists including Jacqueline Johnson, Debbie Nahous, Errol James, and Khadija Huggins.

This year’s production features two special guest artists: renowned tenor Nigel Floyd and Payge Turner, the multi-talented singer-songwriter who gained national recognition on season 19 of NBC’s The Voice. Turner will perform a specially arranged piece alongside her mother, Jacqueline Johnson, marking a memorable family collaboration on stage.

Established in 1963 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2005, the Marionettes Chorale has maintained six decades of artistic excellence, having premiered works by Caribbean and international composers, toured globally, and produced eight professional recordings. Their Christmas concerts have become cultural fixtures that annually draw multi-generational audiences.

The 2025 series receives support from One Caribbean Media Ltd, Flow (Columbus Communications), AVIT Support Ltd, and Music Radio 97.1FM. Performance times are set for 7:00 PM on December 5-6 and 5:00 PM on December 7. Ticket information is available through orders@marionetteschorale.com, telephone inquiries at 790-1751, or via Queen’s Hall Box Office at 298-9089/376-5699 and queenshalltt.com.

Trinidad’s vibrant theatre community is set to host an extraordinary week of theatrical presentations during the first week of December. Three prominent organizations—Playwrights Workshop Trinbago (PWT), Trinidad Theatre Workshop (TTW), and Torch Theatre Company (TTC)—have joined forces to present a diverse program of performances and readings that highlight both emerging and established Caribbean talent.

The cultural festivities commence on December 3 at 7 PM with PWT’s Monthly Readers Theatre Series, featuring a cold reading and audience discussion of ‘HerStory’ by Arnetia Thomas. This compelling drama explores the emotional journey of Claudette, a woman who channels her maternal instincts toward her extended family while grappling with her own inability to conceive. The narrative examines how personal pain can unconsciously affect relationships, following Claudette’s path toward self-discovery and empowerment.

Thomas, an accomplished creative professional active since 2014, brings multifaceted experience to her writing. Holding a theatre arts degree from UWI, she has excelled as an actress, dancer, traditional mas performer, fire breather, educator, and director. She currently teaches theatre arts at Belmont Secondary School while co-managing her own theatre company, De Drama FacTTory, and traditional mas group Les Reines Djabbes.

The theatrical journey continues on December 5 at 7 PM with a landmark off-script performance of Althea Milliband’s ‘Jury of Peers,’ directed by Marvin L Ishmael. This innovative production marks the first fully-staged interpretation of Milliband’s absurdist legal drama, which was inspired by a viral video depicting a crab wielding a knife. The play imaginatively explores the judicial implications of a crustacean potentially causing human fatality, questioning whether such an act could constitute self-defense, murder, manslaughter, or even suicide.

Milliband, who describes herself as a revolutionary and aspiring playwright, developed this unconventional narrative after the bizarre video captured her creative imagination.

Concluding the week’s events, Torch Theatre Company presents ‘Dat Is Mih Family’ on December 6 at 7 PM and December 7 at 6 PM. This improvisational Christmas comedy promises warmth and hilarity, offering audiences a lighthearted seasonal performance.

All events will be hosted at the Trinidad Theatre Workshop’s venue at 6 Newbold Street, St Clair, Port of Spain. The Monthly Readers Theatre Series serves as a critical developmental platform for emerging playwrights, providing opportunity for script refinement through audience feedback and professional input. PWT encourages actors, directors, producers, and theatre enthusiasts to participate in these readings, as volunteers from the audience often contribute to the dramatic interpretations.

Playwrights seeking to have their work featured in future readings must submit scripts for consideration through the MRTS program. Additional information regarding submissions and upcoming events can be obtained by emailing playwrightsworkshoptt@gmail.com, calling/texting/WhatsApping 351-6293, or visiting their social media channels @playwrightsworkshoptt on Facebook and Instagram.

In the realm of comfort food, few dishes rival the divine flavor and heartwarming appeal of expertly roasted meats. Culinary expert Wendy Rahamut presents a masterclass in transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary culinary experiences through traditional roasting techniques that yield crispy, well-browned perfection.

Pot roasting emerges as an exceptional method for enhancing less tender cuts of beef. Through slow cooking and braising in aromatic marinades, even tougher meats transform into flavorful, tender masterpieces. These roasts not only serve as perfect main courses but also create exceptional leftovers for sandwiches.

Wendy’s comprehensive guide details three distinct roasting approaches:

Beef Pot Roast Preparation:
A 3½-4 lb prime rump undergoes overnight marination in a sophisticated blend of minced garlic, olive oil, fresh thyme, black pepper, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and red wine. The cooking process involves careful browning, slow roasting at 350°F with periodic basting using beef or chicken stock, and precise temperature monitoring to achieve ideal doneness.

Garlic-Infused Leg of Lamb:
A 4 lb bone-in leg of lamb receives an intense marinade of Dijon mustard, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, cracked black pepper, fresh rosemary, and olive oil. After overnight marination, the roast cooks at 375°F until reaching the optimal internal temperature of 140°F, followed by essential resting before carving.

Herb-Roasted Chicken Technique:
A 4 lb chicken undergoes meticulous preparation with a paste of chopped chives, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, thyme, and black pepper. The bird marinates overnight before roasting at 375°F with continuous basting, resulting in exceptionally juicy meat with perfectly crisp skin.

Each recipe emphasizes the importance of marination time, temperature control, proper resting periods, and sauce preparation techniques that transform pan drippings into flavorful accompaniments. These methods demonstrate how traditional cooking approaches can produce restaurant-quality results in home kitchens, celebrating the timeless appeal of roasted meats as both culinary centerpieces and versatile ingredients for subsequent meals.