Calypso Revue celebrates 50th season Sunday

The Revue Calypso Tent begins its 50th season anniversary celebrations with a church service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-of-Spain, on Sunday.

The tent was started in 1964 by businessman Leslie Lucky Samaroo. Since that time the name, ownership and management has changed on numerous occasions. In an earlier time the Revue was called the Strand Revue, The Calypso Review, the Trinidad Review; Kitchener’s Revue and over the past few years, the Kalypso Revue.

The spelling of the name has also undergone changes by individuals and journalists, alike. The tent was original spelled Revue, then it was spelt, Review. Due to legal challenges associated with the tent’s ownership the name was not used at all for a period, and for one calypso season was called the Caravan.

Over the years the tent has produced many calypso monarchs and road march champions inclusive of the Lord Kitchener; the Mighty Bomber; the Mighty Sniper; Black Stalin; Denyse Plummer; Crazy; Poser and others.

The 50th season anniversary is a grand and special achievement, and the Revue management committee has planned a series of activities to celebrate the event such as—Bring Yuh Kaiso and Come—a free programme, following the church service on Sunday, at which calypsonians would be showcasing new or old compositions. This takes place at the SWWTU Hall on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, starting at noon.

An awards dinner and dance is scheduled for the Hyatt Regency on Wrightson Road on October 26. The Kalypso Revue is also seeking a permanent home. “We are not just looking for a building or land to build a building,” explained chairman of the management committee Michael Osouna (Sugar Aloes).

“We are trying to establish a space where we can create the Revue into a tourist attraction; a place where researchers could find information on the Grand Master (the late Kitchener); on Dr Calliste, on the Mighty Bomber, on Lord Cristo, and on all members of the Revue,” he said.