“Till Ah Find A Place After The 50th”

Ronald Hollingsworth’s “Till Ah Find A Place” has entertained thousands over the years since it was first staged in 1991 at the National Cultural Centre.

The original cast then performed to sold-out crowds that were always left totally satisfied. The play quickly became a household name with repeated sold-out performances much to the delight of Hollingsworth’s fans.

The lead roles were played by the immensely popular Henry Rodney, Nicola Smith and Desiree Edghill who thrilled the large audiences with their brilliant interpretation of the script. The original cast of 1991 toured Linden, Bartica, Anna Regina and New Amsterdam.

The word got out that “Till Ah Find A Place” was the play to see and Guyanese everywhere wanted it staged in their hometowns. In 1994, the play was staged at the Billy Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a cast of Caribbean thespians, and Hollingsworth as the guest director/playwright.

It was a hit and was staged again in New York off Broadway at the Producers’ Club.

In 1998, the play was staged again in Guyana with new actors attempting to do justice to the previously staged version. On this occasion, it was rebranded “Till Ah Find A Place” – In Sophia”.

This time, the leads were played by Howard Lorimer, La Vonne George and Michelle Elphage with support from the late Rudy Pateetdeo who played Eddie the crazy boyfriend – a crowd favourite. The response was just as overwhelming as to the first staging.

In 2001, the play made its way to Texas, the new home of the playwright, where it was staged in Dallas. The actors were all US citizens except for the lead role of Linden which was played by the Guyanese playwright/director himself.

The play was then staged again in 2006 with yet another subtitle – “Till Ah Find a Place – After the Flood”. Again, Henry Rodney was cast as the male lead alongside Sonia Yarde, the female lead on this occasion. Linden “Jumbie” Jones became the audience favourite playing Eddie the crazy boyfriend.

Ten years later, at the request of the Jubilee Theatre Festival, the most popular Guyanese play of all time will again be featured this time as “Till Ah Find A Place After the 50th” for one night only – June 3, 2016, at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Kingston, Georgetown under the directorship of Sheron Cadogan-Taylor.

Playing the lead roles will be Mark Kazim and Leslyn Bobb-Semple, with Michael Ignatius as the crazy boyfriend. Supporting roles will be played by Sean Thompson, Mark Luke-Edwards, Le Tisha Da Silva and Makini Harry.