The play “Last of the Redmen”, written by the late Dr Michael Gilkes and directed by Henry Muttoo, will be staged in the small theatre of the National Cultural Centre on November 3 and 4, 2023. 
The theatrical production features veteran actor and director Ron Robinson, who brings to the stage over 60 years of experience in the theatre industry. Supporting cast is the versatile Mark Luke Edwards as the Reporter and flashback scenes with upcoming actors Latifa Agard, Akeila David, David Hackett and Stephon Romain as children from his past.
Last of Redmen is a 2007 winning play for the Guyana Prize for Literature, and is being produced by GEMS Theatre Productions and Prime Time Productions with support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport under the “One Guyana” policy.
Last of the Redmen first premiered in 2006, on the stage where it was born: the Taitts old ‘drawing room’ (the Ballet Room) in the original Woodbine House, now the special “heritage wing” of the Cara Lodge Heritage House. Remarkably, the building still maintains its original architectural and artistic elegance. Michael Gilkes played the role of RAF Redman then. It was taken on tour to St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, Toronto and the Cayman Islands.
In the “Last of the Redmen”, RAF Redman, an octogenarian banished to an alms’ house in Georgetown, tells his story to a reporter about the play he is writing. He experiences the whole gamut of human emotion, ranging from excitement, astonishment, elation, joy, happiness and delight, to boredom, anger, fear, alarm, tedium, depression, disillusionment and madness.
The story is representative of the benign artistic and cultural influence of the so-called ‘middle class’, which is mirrored and can be traced in most of the territories of the Caribbean. The play celebrates that influence with love and gratitude.
Theatre-goers would be treated to theatre of the highest standard, and the production would take its place among the most accomplished dramas.
LAST OF THE REDMEN opens on Friday, November 3, with a gala performance. A ticket costs $6,500 and include cocktails from 19:30h, while the show gets underway at 20:00h. Part proceeds from the gala will be donated to Uncle Eddie’s Home.
The second show is billed for Saturday, November 4, at 14.00h, with a ticket being sold for $2,500. All tickets are available at the National Cultural Centre Box Office.
