By Judy Stone
(1988)
SLADE HOPKINSON is another Guyanese who left a lasting legacy to Trinidad theatre, in the form of the work of the company he founded in 1970, the Caribbean Theatre Guild, as well as in his own writings.
During the sixties, Slade worked with the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, appearing in 1962 in the company's first public presentation, as Krapp in Beckett's one-man "Krapp's Last Tape". He played in numerous other productions, including Genet's "The Blacks", and Walcott's "Dream on Monkey Mountain" (Lestrade) and "Ti-Jean and His Brothers" (Devil).
In 1964 he appeared under Errol Hill's direction in the Trinidad Dramatic Club/Phoenix Players quarter centenary production of "King Lear", in a towering performance of Lear that would have been acclaimed on any stage in the world.
The premier CTG production directed by Slade and first presented in 1971, and the following year carried over to Guyana for the initial Carifesta, was Archibald's "Rose Slip". Subsequently the CTG staged work by Soyinka and Errol John, and Slade's own "Sala". Slade's "Scent of Jasmines" was also presented on television.
For reasons of health, Slade has lived abroad for many years in Jamaica and Canada, but the CTG is still active. In 1986 the company staged "Belle Fanto" in the National Drama Festival, and in 1985 he was selected to be honoured by that Festival.