Family event to celebrate 1959 Theatre Boycott
People can pay tribute to three local legends at a festival celebrating the success of the 1959 Theatre Boycott this weekend.
The event, which will centre around families, will be held on the City Hall grounds, also known as Freedom Square, on Saturday.
Considered a landmark in the fight for equality in Bermuda, the Theatre Boycott led to the desegregation of the island’s theatres.
In addition to performances by In Motion School of Dance and the Gombeys, representatives from Family Centre and Mirrors and physician Ayeesha Peets Talbot will talk about how families can reach their full potential.
The event will also have old-fashioned games and an open-mike session, where people can offer short tributes to National Heroes Sir John Swan and the late Pauulu Kamarakafego, as well as the recently deceased union leader Ottiwell Simmons.
At City Hall earlier today, Glenn Fubler, one of the event’s organisers, called the three men “the bies from North Village”.
He said: “[They were] born within a few years of each other, in close proximity and all attended the same primary and secondary schools.”
Wendell Dill, known as “the voice of the village”, will be one of the festival’s emcees.
Given that the event will have the theme “We Are Family”, Mr Dill shared his belief that love at home is key to healthy families.
He said: “I am so happy to spoil my grandchildren, because my wife and I took the time to be at home and be in [our children’s] lives.
“[If it starts] at home, the love at home can spread throughout. By coming out here on Saturday, we’re going to see that type of love that comes from families.”
Despite happening 64 years ago, Glenn Fubler believes people can still learn from those who took part in the Theatre Boycott.
He said: “The lesson we can learn is that we all have some capacity to transform our reality.
“[The protesters] were ordinary folks that were able to take down a system that was in place for centuries.
“That example is instructive for us today. If you have issues in your family, neighbourhood or community, remember that you can make a difference.
“That, in essence, is what we are celebrating.”
Shalave Simmons, one of Mr Simmons’s grandchildren, said the most important thing the labour stalwart taught him was the value of family.
He said: “People always saw my grandfather in the front, but they did not realise that he had a family he went back home to.
“He always told us that as much as he was doing it for the people, he was doing it in particular, for Bermuda, ourselves and for his children.”
The festival will run from 4pm until 7.30pm. People interested in taking part in the open mike should e-mail glennfubler@gmail.com by Saturday at 10am.
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