Meet the Creative Artists

Meet Neila K. Ettienne

Neila K. Ettienne is an actor, children's book author, director and educator and young playwright. She received her BA in Theatre from Cameron University and recently completed an MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was born and raised on the island of Grenada, where she founded a theatre for youth company called The Creative Arts Theatre. As Artistic Director, Neila’s main aims are to foster and encourage young people to share their stories through drama and to keep Caribbean culture alive through the performing arts.

As a playwright, Neila has written Monkey See, Monkey Do, DonkOlympics, Anansi and La Diablesse, and Dirty Dreams. Neila’s acting credits include The Bayside Story, No Money No Love, I can do it mama,Uncle, Sparky- The Firefly Born Without a Light, Playhouse Creatures, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Triumph of Love, and A Year with Frog and Toad. Most recently, Clybourne Park, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Actions and Objectives and Caroline, or Change. As a working artist and educator in the United States, Neila strives to introduce and educate her students and fellow artists about Caribbean literature, folklore, and traditions.

Meet Todd Siff

Todd Siff, a theatre artist, musician, and arts educator has great interest in a collaborative project between the North Carolina Theatre for Young People and The Creative Arts Theatre in Grenada. Since receiving his BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University, he has been working as an artist and educator in the field of TYA for numerous organizations, focusing on international theatre, theatre for social change, and devised theatre. He has had the opportunity to work domestically and internationally with the Australian Theatre for Young People, Zach Scott Theatre (Austin, TX), Avila (Caracas, Venezuela), and Lovewell (Sweden).

Todd just completed his MFA in Theatre for Youth at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), under the mentorship of 2004 Ann Shaw Fellow Rachel Briley, where I also work for the North Carolina Theatre for Young People (NCTYP). A core value of NCTYP is to foster connection and collaboration with innovative organizations within the international TYA community. During his time at NCTYP and UNCG, he have begun a new global devising project called The Acceptance Project.

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Great Improv Session today

Today we explored from a religious point of view. What does acceptance mean for Christians and non-Christians? What is the established culture for accepting Jesus and how do you go about doing it without being judged and or ridicule by others who do not share similar beliefs. Today we put the actors to the test in an Improv setting. What if the Christian had to live a day in the life of a bad boy and vice versa. The actors explore the language of a bad boy, his pysicalisations and way of life. Oh, what a joy to see the very common stereotypes; the dropping of the pants below the bum, the hand shakes and the drugs.

Curtain Closes but the Conversations Continue

Checking out the Space... The Marryshow Folk Theatre is one of the oldest buildings in Grenada. It is located on H.A Blaize Street in St. Georges and houses the school of continuing studies of the University of the West Indies Open Campus. Though in dire need of renovations, Marryshow House has been home to Veni Vwei La Grenade Dance company, productions by RKD Theatre and Heritage Theatre and now, our home, Creative Arts Theatre. The theatre is a sacred place for dances and actors alike and the former home of Grenadian Hero, Theophilus Albert Marryshow. T.A. Marryshow, who was one of Grenada's first politicians, an advocate for Caribbean unity and a lover of cultural arts. The stage is a beautiful space, only florescent lighting and the light board has only one feature that works...Lights up and lights down. we have to make whatever we have do, according to the old folks. 200- seat house The night of the performance The cast knows the importance of war...

We have a Working Script and have begun Rehearsal!

She's a mother, a daughter, a sister a friend, She's not your Own! Rose’s Spoken Word Maybe if I just do as I was told, when I’m told, how I’m told; Cook, clean- I do all those things but maybe not good enough Otherwise I won’t be pacing to and fro, Biting nails, double checking everything before he comes home. --He’s HERE! And by just the turn of the key I knew tonight wasn’t a love making night He was Angry, Before I could say hello, Greet him with a smile, He flung the door shut and with the blink of an eye, His has were wrapped around my neck Screaming--- I don’t know what he’s saying But the daggers that shoot out of his mouth, Stab my soul It’s the emotional pain that hurts more So, with every whack of a spoon, And smash her face All I think of is how can I be his everything— His inner peace! After only SEVEN days of work, we have a working script that we were so happy to read out loud today. We were ...

The Acceptance Project Grenada- 2018

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