The MerMade Shopp -

The MerMade Shopp



After I completed my degree at PRATT I was deciding my next career move. The pull and tug between being in New York with its enticements and wanting to take my learning back to my homeland occupied my mind. A friend of mine, Mervyn De Goeas was also of like mind and was encouraging me to consider going back to Trinidad. He had procured funding to create his dream theatre and we had several conversations about his plans that factored into two to three years ahead. He had also secured permission for plays and had outlined who he would want on his team. He reasoned that I could do all the aspects of design from trademark to set design.

So, convinced by this initiative I returned to Trinidad and Tobago. After even many more conversations on the viabilities, The MerMade Shop was created.

The first play chosen was Rick Abbott’s PLAY ON,. a light hearted period comedy. WHo knew that this play would mirror what would happen elsewhere. We procured the then major space for drama,The Little Carib Theatre. The much anticipated rehearsals began with table readings and on to dress rehearsals. Then, suddenly the twenty-thousand dollars promised to make the whole production work disappeared overnight.

We were in the middle of preparations to bring the play to the public and now we were left out in the cold with absolutely no prospects to continue.

I had to think on my feet. What in the world was I going to do with no available money? I recalled seeing linoleum in rolls in our multi-purpose market many years before and the idea came to me that perhaps I could create an entire environment with it.

Oil cloth samples

Mervyn also happened to have a box of the oil cloth as it is popularly known and he brought it for me. Additionally I was able to get some heavy plastic sheeting and with that, I was thus able to create an entire manor house,with gardens featuring topiary and ultimately an entire Persian rug. The entire set was done in a particularly whimsical technique to embody the spirit of the period of plays setting.

One of the memorable comments from the childrens matinee that was added to the program came from our former First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago, Zalayhar Hassanali. She genuinely thought that a real carpet was used to create the floor. It was very satisfying to see so many parents take pictures with their children on the set. It was truly appreciated.

The Plays -

1. Play On - Rick Abbott
2. The Normal Heart - Larry Kramer
3. Angels in America - Tony Kushner

In the year that I gave to the theatre, I learned that the theatrics were not always on the set. I learned a great deal and most of all I tested my skills in ways that I would not have done otherwise.