Three by Three Living Room With Six Oppressions, Ride A Pale Horse, Jourmard, Moon On A Rainbow Shawl and Dream on Monkey Mountain, are just some of the many plays to his credits. Today, after years of travelling the world and blessing audiences with his magnificent gift of acting, Ralph Campbell is now devoting his time and expertise to giving back to the community in which he was raised-Morvant. His plan-the creation of the Morvant Community Theatre Development Project."The whole idea of the project is to have a professional theatre managed by young people who are professionally trained in theatre arts, working at the community level. We are trying to develop and teach the institution of theatre," explained Campbell. He added that the Morvant Community Theatre Development also aims to serve and assist in government's process of participating with its people through consultation, planning and implementation of enlightened programmes and projects for reconciliation, re-education, rehabilitation, resuscitation, renewal and justice in the national society, particularly in the high risk communities of East Port-of-Spain, such as Morvant Central and environs.
Young people minds must be developed
"In Trinidad, theatre may seem like a shaky career to have because it is still not taken seriously and as a thespian it is a struggle. But with this project that is exactly what we are working towards eliminating-that struggle," noted Campbell. The former foundation actor with the Derek Walcott T&T Theatre Workshop, revealed that he wants to develop the minds of the youth in Morvant through the project. "I want to develop their thinking because many people have intelligence but because their minds have never been groomed to use that intelligence-they just live what they learn and I hold my generation responsible for that," confessed Campbell. "We are batting last wicket down. We don't have 20 or 30 years ahead so what is important for us now is to see how much we could correct and provide for the succeeding generation."
Already promised help from Gypsy
Excited to disclose that the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism is already promising support for Campbell's project, he said he has spoken with Minister Winston Peters (Gypsy) who assured him the Ministry's support once the project was properly structured. "I am so happy that the ,minister is willing to support this project because he understands what it is to struggle as a person involved in the arts in this town. "It was very comforting to speak to a man like that and I was assured that once I got the project done properly, I could go back to him and things can happen," Campbell articulated.
Challenges
Asked what he thought his challenges might be with such a project, Campbell, with great precision said-backwardness. He elaborated: "The backwardness of people in their thinking-that the project may just be another rise and fall. "Support might be difficult at first with regards to some members in the community. But we are not expecting an overnight miracle. We know that eventually everyone will come around."
Theatre must be appreciated
Campbell who believes that the pioneers of theatre arts in T&T have not gained the respect and appreciation they deserve, said he was also doing the project to educate young people about greats like Derek Walcott, Rawle Gibbons, Jemma Allong Redman and others who paved the way for present thespians but never got that true honour they so much deserved. "I am doing this because I want the young people to know the history of theatre in T&T and pioneers who made it possible for theatre to stay alive."