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Theatres in Jamaica

Theatres don't give you that option for convenient planning. Logistics are simpler for the theatre: the current show is the only show and runs maybe for months before the listing changes. Now and again, there is an opera concert.

There is a genre known as "roots" theatre in the Jamaican repertoire. The emergence of the style was linked to the 1970s. The roots plays and back yards or makeshift theatres give the theatre movement a grassroots feel. The bawdiness of dance hall music is comparable to the tone of the roots play.

The back yard theatres are a far cry from the orthodoxies when the Ward Theatre, opened in 1912, was famous. Even Broadway played at the Ward, located in downtown Kingston. However, both the Ward and the surrounding neighbourhood disintegrated and fell out of favour with promotors. The Little Theatre closer to Cross Roads, was preferred for the annual staple, Pantomime.

The theatres in Kingston might evolve from back yards but to host events, they must be approved sites that meet requirements for building standards, safety and health by the Municipality and the National Fire Service. See listing of theatre places in Kingston.

Museum, Heritage sites with special collections

The government runs the National Museum of Jamaica at five locations.

The main branch is in Kingston. There is also the Bob Marley Museum, Bustamante Museum, Money Museum at BOJ, a museum at Liberty Hall featuring the life and times of Marcus Garvey, Devon House - a restored 19^th century house with the original articles, Trench Town Culture Yard & Museum showcasing "articles, instruments and furnishing used by Tata Ford, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer" from times when Bob and Tata lived in the yard (JNHT).

On the website of the JNHT you will find a list and description of historic sites and heritage tours to check out.