5/22/23, 9:01 PM “IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR”…PLAYWRIGHT BASIL DAWKINS AND DAUGHTER TK, AIM TO TAKE JAMAICAN THEATER TO …

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CLINTON LINDSAY » BREAKING NEWS, Featured, Home » “IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR”…

PLAYWRIGHT BASIL DAWKINS AND DAUGHTER TK, AIM TO TAKE JAMAICAN THEATER TO
THE NEXT LEVEL!

“IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR”…PLAYWRIGHT

BASIL DAWKINS AND DAUGHTER TK, AIM
TO TAKE JAMAICAN THEATER TO THE
NEXT LEVEL!
May 2nd, 2022 | Add a Comment

By Richard Johnson —

https://clintonlindsay.com/2022/05/02/its-a-family-affair-playwright-basil-dawkins-and-daughter-tk-aim-to-take-jamaican-theater-to-the-next-level/ 1/8
5/22/23, 9:01 PM “IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR”…PLAYWRIGHT BASIL DAWKINS AND DAUGHTER TK, AIM TO TAKE JAMAICAN THEATER TO …

Dawkins (foreground) poses on set with the cast of Hide Your Husband.

LAST Saturday the comedy Hide Your Husband opened on stage at the Little Little Theatre in St Andrew.

Written and produced by seasoned theatre practitioner Basil Dawkins, this work represents the first
production to hit the boards in over two years due to the novel cornavirus pandemic.

Directed by TK Dawkins (daughter of the playwright), Hide Your Husband represents the sixth production
from her father’s pen that she is directing. She previously directed Once A Man Twice A Wife in
2020, Dangerous Ambitions in 2018, Four Can’t Play in 2016, Guilt Trip in 2015, while her maiden voyage
was Toy Boy in 2013.

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TK & Basil Dawkins

She told the Jamaica Observer that, contrary to popular belief, she did not immediately gravitate towards a
career in the theatre although she grew up with it all around her and had a real appreciation for the arts.
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“It was always around me. Daddy was always writing, we would always come home to see Jamaican stars at
our house for meetings and rehearsals so I had an appreciation, but never really considered a career path.
Despite a father who was a playwright and producer, my brother and I were always expected to choose the
traditional professions… you know doctor, lawyer police etc. I even went as far as to apply for and was
accepted into law school as I really did nothing artistic growing up.”

TK Dawkins

Dawkins admits that the bug must have been in the air as they (she and her brother) were their father’s
sounding boards for every new script.

Then in 2013 there was a twist of fate when the director originally contracted to helm the production of Toy
Boy had to pull out at the last moment. At that time Basil Dawkins would call on his daughter to make her
directorial début.

“Like I said, we had always read the scripts and offered our two cents to make the scripts a little bit more
modern. But that is as far as it went. So when the director had to pull out he just came to me ‘TK, you will
have to do this one.’ I was like ‘Do what?’ Are you crazy?’ And he just simply said, ‘You have to do it.’ I was
terrified, filled with self-doubt and just internalized everything. But when the production was well received is
when I realized how much I knew about the business by just being around my father, and watching rehearsals
take place in my house, and being at the theatre for all my life,” she shared.

That was nearly a decade ago. Today Dawkins feels a lot more comfortable in the role of director and with
the responsibility that comes with it. She shared that she is now confident in insisting on what she wants
from actors.

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5/22/23, 9:01 PM “IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR”…PLAYWRIGHT BASIL DAWKINS AND DAUGHTER TK, AIM TO TAKE JAMAICAN THEATER TO …

“Can you imagine directing people like Oliver Samuels and Leonie Forbes who have been acting longer than
I have been alive? With repetition comes confidence. While I can’t say I know everything, I am much better
at communicating my vision. I trust myself more.”

She described her father as a very hands-off writer/producer who allows the director to direct. He is
responsible for assembling the team, which includes casting and hiring the technical support, but the director
has the responsibility to take his vision from script to stage.

As for her delving deeper into the family business, Dawkins is already working on a script of her own to
appeal to a much younger demographic whom she says do not patronize local theatre.

“My dream is to add to what daddy has built; he puts out at least one production each year. The truth is his
patrons are of a certain age. I want to tap into to the 25-50 age group and provide them with a story and
production they can relate to. So many of my friends never go to the theatre because what is on stage does
not appeal to them.

“I have already started working on something… it’s about dating in Jamaica, the challenges that young
professionals find in attracting a suitable companion locally,” Dawkins added.

Cast of “Hide Your Husband”

She further noted that she is big on young, fresh talent and will be drawing on the talent pool which exists at
the School of Drama at the Edna College of the Visual and Performing Arts, having just enjoyed their latest
production.

As for Hide Your Husband, Dawkins said originally her father had a drama in mind for release at this time.
However, things changed quickly once the restrictions were lifted a few weeks ago. They decided to go with
what she called a compelling comedy about a woman who, based on past experiences and a rough life, has
decided to utilize what comes to her naturally to maintain her lifestyle by befriending married men.

This production stars Maylynne Lowe, Donald Anderson, Earl Brown and Michael Forrest, and is shown
from Tuesday to Sunday.

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