(EDITOR’S NOTE: James Catalyn, who died on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at the age of 78, was a playwright, poet and actor, best known for his theater troupe, James Catalyn and Friends, that he founded in December 1979. On her website, www.rosemarychanna.com, my Facebook friend Rosemary Clarice Hanna documents a series of articles on outstanding Bahamians that I think should be included in a civics course in our public schools. On her Facebook page on April 15, 2020, Rosemary reposted an article written by James Catalyn that was originally posted on her blog on November 5, 2015, that I decided to share with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE.)
By JAMES CATALYN
James Catalyn & Friends Theatrical Group has been a tour-de-force on the theatrical scene in The Bahamas for the past 35 years. The group is presently The Bahamas’ leading troupe in ethnic Bahamian theatre and is the trailblazer in exposing theatrical performances to many of the Family Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. They have performed on every major or minor stage throughout The Bahamas, including several Garden Performances at private affairs and staging outdoor theatre at many festivals and homecomings.
The group came into existence as a result of James Catalyn, a renowned Bahamian writer, poet, satirist and actor, being invited by Messrs. Carl Bethel and Noel Hamilton of the local television station ZNS TV13 to tape a one-hour television special for the station’s television series, “An Evening With…” He immediately jumped at the opportunity and gathered several of his friends around him and thus “James Catalyn & Friends” came into being. Because of earlier performances with James Catalyn, Noel Hamilton became the first “and Friends”.
That was in December, 1979. As a result, they have enjoyed their own Television Series, “Laughin’ at Wesef” on ZNS TV13. (The phrase was coined by James J. Catalyn as a result of some of his expatriate “friends” saying that he was “making fun of the Bahamian people”, as if it was their exclusive right to laugh at Bahamians). In addition, they have done numerous televisions Christmas, Valentine and Independence Specials. Their plays “I Remember Dat”, “The Courtship” and the Musical “Guanahani” have also been televised on ZNS TV13. See the remarkable feature on James Catalyn and Friends on Rosemary Clarice Hanna’s website at http://www.rosemarychanna.com/james-catalyn-friends-founded-1970/?fbclid=IwAR2JJbyTPwyAh3UGfB3VMs3a_AD2Tkk2rBOaquDrycDSRTOUHQPatKrOptw
