Steven Edwards Productions: Theatre with Conscience

When an almost unknown drama troupe is able to turn heads locally and regionally, you stand up and take notice.  It takes just one Steven Edwards play to get you hooked on this theatre troupe’s unique brand of uplifting and socially relevant theatre. Recently completing a well-received production of “For Better or For Worse” in Antigua, Steven Edwards Productions (SEP) has proven its plays can excel in any forum.  This fact was not missed by patrons including no less than the Prime Minister of Antigua, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer, who called the play “simply a wonderful presentation…worth seeing” and went further to describe it as having an exemplary cast.

Playwright, Director, Producer and Actor Steven Edwards understands clearly that what he possesses is a gift from God.  He has even been known to say that he is not so talented.  With the support of a great team consisting of his wife Rachael Edwards, Evan “Usher” Charles, Kurtis Gross and Anicka Edwards (no relation), Steven Edwards Productions stands poised to make its mark on the local, regional and international scene.

A non-profit organization based in Arima, SEP is not just about producing great plays. At its core SEP seeks to provide a forum for public education through theatre, targeting at-risk youth and presenting them with an alternative from involvement in delinquent activities by providing not just discipline through involvement in theatre, but also employment in the industry.  The organization exists to ensure that young people get an opportunity to do what they excel at and make a living from it.  Its Transformation Through Theatre Program seeks to curb recruitment of young men into gangs and place them in a position where they can receive the same sense of belonging, protection, respect, recognition and financial gain.    

Steven Edwards Productions seeks to do its part to encourage the further development of theatre in Trinidad and Tobago by providing a more socially conscious alternative to the almost universal adult-themed plays produced here annually.   All of this theatre troupe’s plays are original, local works and Edwards has his sights set on producing three more original plays this year.  Additionally, SEP considers itself an evolving organization and chooses not to limit itself to just theatre but sees itself delving into other art forms like music, dance, and even sports.  The company’s active Facebook site, complete with excerpts from various performances, is also a testament to SEP’s public relations savvy and popularity.

Edwards believes the mixture of experience and youthful enthusiasm is the driving force that makes the Steven Edwards Productions formula work.  Its ability to elicit universal appeal remains the strong suit of the organization.   Everyone can enjoy a Steven Edwards production the only problem is you probably won’t be able to stop at one.