分类： entertainment

In an electrifying display of musical excellence, San Juan East Side Symphony has secured its unprecedented ninth victory in the Single Pan Panorama competition. The triumphant moment unfolded in the early hours of November 30 at Port of Spain’s iconic Queen’s Park Savannah, marking the first major championship of Carnival 2026.

The defending champions, performing in the penultimate position of the 25-band lineup, delivered a masterful rendition of Machel Montano’s ‘Jumbie’ arranged by the renowned Duvone Stewart. Their performance earned a commanding 285 points from the judges after six hours of continuous musical performances that began the previous evening.

La Creole Pan Groove from Diego Martin mounted a formidable challenge, finishing a mere three points behind with 282 points. Their arrangement of the late Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore’s 1990 composition ‘Pan By Storm’, arranged by Dejean Cain and vocalized by Keith ‘Designer’ Prescott, captivated the audience during their position 20 performance.

San Juan Chord Masters Steel Orchestra claimed third position with 280 points for their interpretation of Montano’s ‘Showdown (Band meet Band)’ arranged by Andre White. Tobago’s Metro Stars Steel Orchestra secured fourth place with 277 points despite bringing composer Akhenaton ‘Yung Bredda’ Lewis to the stage for their performance of ‘Kettle Pot’.

The competition featured notable achievements including a fifth-place tie between New Age Trendsetters and Hope Pan Groovers, both scoring 274 points. Protective service bands demonstrated strong showings with Trinidad and Tobago Prisons Service Steel Orchestra taking seventh place (273 points) and TT Police Steel Orchestra securing eighth (270 points). The event concluded with a ninth-place tie between Epic Koskeros Steel Orchestra and D’Original Woodbrook Modernaires Steel Orchestra at 269 points each.

COUVA, TRINIDAD – The Couva Carnival Committee (CCC) has announced a strategic partnership with former Panorama medium band champions Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra to inaugurate the 2026 Carnival season with enhanced cultural programming. The official launch event is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, at 4 PM at the Couva Joylanders panyard on Railway Road, offering free admission to the public.

This collaboration signifies a deliberate effort to integrate the steelpan—Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument—more deeply into Central Trinidad’s Carnival traditions. CCC Chairman Ramchand Rajbal Maraj emphasized the cultural significance, stating, “Couva Joylanders has established an outstanding reputation for excellence. Since pan represents a fundamental pillar of Carnival, we believed it essential for them to assume a more substantial role in our celebrations.”

Richard Gill, Executive Manager of Couva Joylanders, welcomed the initiative as a mutually beneficial development. “Our members are enthusiastic about collaborating with Couva Carnival to create additional platforms for pan enthusiasts to appreciate this art form. Beyond the launch, we plan to perform at multiple events throughout the season,” Gill confirmed. The steelband, which secured the Panorama medium band championship title in 2020, will headline the December launch alongside former National Calypso Monarch Terri Lyons, with additional performances by artists including Wacka Man and Johnny Ramnarine.

The committee extends an invitation to mas camp leaders and J’ouvert bands to exhibit costume designs and sketches for the 2026 season during the launch event, fostering an immersive Carnival atmosphere. Chairman Maraj promised that the 2026 celebrations would surpass previous years in spectacle and energy, though he acknowledged significant financial challenges. “While we receive annual funding from the National Carnival Commission, it remains insufficient to cover our complete budget. We consequently rely heavily on the generosity of both public and private sector partners,” Maraj disclosed.

Notably, the 2026 Carnival schedule features an expanded roster of events, including the Miss Central Trinidad Queen Pageant screening on January 3, calypso competitions on January 11, and the main Carnival events from February 12-17. The pageant finals coinciding with Valentine’s Day on February 14 will reportedly feature special surprises for attendees.

Visual artist Adeline Gregoire has launched her debut solo exhibition, “Vanishing Lines/Lignes de Fuite,” at Loftt Gallery in Woodbrook, presenting an innovative collection that reimagines Caribbean landscapes through abstract cartography. The exhibition, which opened November 15 and runs through November 30, represents a significant departure for Gregoire, who has built her career primarily as a curator and interpreter of others’ work until now.

Gregoire describes the collection as “different types of maps, cartographies of ‘the islands’” that explore profound questions of “history, movement and survival.” Rather than presenting literal geographical representations, her works serve as conceptual mappings that layer references to memory, migration, and colonial histories within abstracted Caribbean landscapes.

The French portion of the exhibition’s title, “Lignes de Fuite,” translates to “lines of flight”—a concept Gregoire employs to examine both physical and metaphorical escape routes. She draws direct parallels between historical marronnage (the escape of enslaved people during colonial times) and contemporary experiences of migration, displacement, and the pursuit of self-determination.

“So many of us are the direct descendants of our maroon ancestors,” Gregoire observes. “And so many of us are not free. We are the runaways of our present time.”

Her artistic process involves innovative techniques including ripping materials, distressing paper, exposing works to the elements, compression, layering, erasing, and scraping—methods that physically echo the themes of erosion, memory, and transformation explored in the content. The resulting works feature richly textured, tactile surfaces that invite both visual and conceptual engagement.

Notable pieces include “Somewhere in Between, Nou La,” which Gregoire describes as “a sort of three-dimensional landscape where you’re supposed to see mountains, coastline and colonial histories all at once,” and “Geographies,” which incorporates thread to suggest connections across spaces divided by man-made borders.

The exhibition benefits from the curatorial expertise of Célia Potiron, a Martinique-born writer and curator based in Paris whose background in Caribbean literature and postcolonial research adds significant depth to the presentation. Gregoire emphasizes the value of this collaboration, noting that Potiron’s “disinterested perspective helped situate the exhibition within wider Caribbean and postcolonial contexts.”

Visitor response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees spending extended periods engaging with individual works and participating in dialogues about their interpretations. Gregoire has enhanced the gallery experience with a curated soundtrack that adds another sensory layer to the exhibition.

While the current exhibition concludes on November 30, Gregoire plans to continue developing these themes in her future work, describing this show as “a stage in an ongoing conversation” about Caribbean identity, history, and landscape.

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.