Jamaican Plays

‘Tick Tock’ is different, very different. It is a play like you have never seen before.

Created and directed by comedian/writer Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis, ‘Tick Tock’ is an innovative multimedia theatrical journey into a Jamaican inner city community, where the nuances of poetry, the brashness of dancehall and striking still images are used to investigate lives and situations which often only flit by in protests recorded by the television cameras. Issues of crime and violence, manhood, domestic abuse, frustrated ambition and sheer joy in living despite challenges, are among the themes that ‘Tick Tock’ explores.

Ellis first developed ‘Tick Tock’ in 2003 as a one-act drama. It had been developed in response to an invitation by Eugene Williams (Director of Studies for the School of Drama at the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts). It was then read as a full play in 2009 at the Philip Sherlock Centre for Creative Arts (UWI, Mona), directed by Carolyn Allen.

The updating is obvious in the set, as the ‘Gaza’ and ‘Gully’ slogans painted on the dilapidated walls of the community certainly were not around in 2003. LA Lewis was though, as well as the irreverent spelling that makes for ‘Kane’.

‘Tick Tock’ is set in a gritty inner city community, and the characters and situations are real, raw and totally true. There is also some strong language, adult content and partial nudity, so the play is rated M (for mature audiences only). The cast comprises twelve dynamic young stars, many of who are outstanding theatre arts graduates of the Edna Manley College – Natalie Bercher, Tesfa Edwards, Kathy Grant,Maricka Marsh, Kenesha Bowes, Joel Ellis, Earl Harris, Donnavan Watkis, Shaun Drysdale, Lakeisha Ellison, Kreshna Jones and Gracie-Ann Watson.

‘Tick Tock’ is a production that’s full of dancehall music and moves, street vibes and energy. It plays at the Theatre Place, 8 Haining Road in New Kingston on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.