With membership open to anyone interested in the theatre, we welcome and encourage you to get involved with us. Membership of the Theatre Guild runs from 1 January to 31 December each year.
We have two types of membership:
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General Membership
General membership is open to the public and membership fees in 2015 are:
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$5,000 a year for adults
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$2,500 a year for umeployed or pensioner
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$2,000 a year for children 4 to 16 years old
Benefits include:
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Access to theatrical workshop conducted by the Theatre Guild
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Job opportunities
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Character references when requested
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Discounts on rentals and tickets
Corporate Membership
In order to become a Corporate sponsored member, your organisation would have to fit into our sponsorship range:
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Platinum Membership – G$250,000 (US$1250) a year
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Gold Membership – G$ 200, 000 (US$1000) a year
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Silver Membership – G$ 150,000 (US$750.00) a year
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Bronze Membership – G$ 100,000 (US$500) a year
Benefits include:
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Free tickets premium to any production put on by the Theatre Guild during the year of membership. (Premium seats are usually G$2000 each. The Guild puts on at least 4 productions annually)
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3 Free Workshops on The Art of Presentation for Business
This year for the first time we are offering three (3) closed presentations only for nominees of corporate sponsors to the following workshops:
The Art of Presentation 1: Fixing Common Grammatical Mistakes We Sometimes Make. Facilitated by Guildmember Dr. Mark Tumbridge, Language and Culture Specialist.
The Art of Presentation 2: Effective Presentations and Public Speaking. By Guild members Enrico Woolford and Ron Robinson, CEO’ Capital News and Prime Time and veteran broadcasters.
The Art of Presentation 3: Strategic Self Presentation. Handling Hot Seat Situations. By Guild member Dr. Paloma Mohamed, social psychologist and communications strategist.
These workshops are free and designed for our corporate sponsors only. Please send us the names of up to 2 nominees per workshop as space is limited.
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Specially for Children – Healing Arts Writing Workshop
Work with youth and children are fundamental to the Guild’s project of nurturing the arts and culture in Guyana. Healing Arts is a creative writing programme open to children and youth hosted by Dr. Paloma Mohamed and students of the Guild, one Saturday per month at the Theatre Guild.
There are 2 workshops; one for children 8 to 10 years old and another for children 11 to 14 years old. If there are children who love writing that you know, they may those of your employees, in your community, your own children or friends children or those from orphanages and homes,please send us their names and contact information for possible inclusion in the programme.
Space is limited to only 10 children per workshop so please notify us early. This is also free.
Here in their own words is how the Guild has impacted the lives of new and old members:
Simone Dowding
“After God, my children, grandchildren and my companion, the guild is the next thing to my heart. It is the place where I found myself. All that I am is because of the Guild and my family there who gently pushed me into managing productions. I was motivated into starting my own production company after being a member of the Guild for over 26 years."
Lisa Punch
“Because of Theatre Guild, I am able to develop my career as an actress. I am able to live out characters on stage for everyone to see and not worry about being judged as opposed to doing so in reality. With music, I can release some amount of stress, but in drama I am able to release every stress in my life because I become someone else. I am grateful that Theatre Guild is a part of my life. The Theatre Guild has been a part of my life since I was the age of four. Kingston Nursery School was the school I attended as a child that was located next to Theatre Guild and our teacher took a group of us there and exposed us to the world of drama. Since then I was hooked and as I went on to Primary and Secondary I would go up for competitions to represent my school in the art form. Theatre Guild sparked my interest as a child. I'm sure it has done the same for many persons.”
Sonia Yarde
“Being a part of the guild has been a stepping stone for me. While I had been acting for several years before the revival of the Guild in 2008, it has helped me to discover and explore my qualities as a director and playwright. I have learnt patience while dealing with the younger clan and that has helped me to deal with obstacles in real life. I have also learnt to take risks as the stage is wide enough to get up and try again. Theatre is my life and its a joy to pass on my skills and knowledge to the future young clan.”
Mosa Telford
“The Theatre Guild is like a second home to me. I love the opportunities it offers for people both young and old to showcase their talents. I feel honored that as a member of the Guild I have been challenged to grow as a writer; to have my work put on display for enjoyment, critique and personal development. My hope for the Guild is that we continue to grow, put aside our differences for the advancement of the arts and eventually become more like a family.”
Tivia Collins
“The Theatre Guild has become and is my second home. It was the place I got to discover the Arts and also the place I got to interact with people who have similar interests within the Arts. I have grown by being involved in various productions and workshops, and I was able to see my work produced on stage as a writer. There is no other institution like this one in Guyana, and I hope that the Guild continues to grow and develop so that its members and the arts in Guyana can benefit.”
Tashandra Inniss
“Since I've started Theatre Guild in 2008, my love for writing has increased tremendously. I've found ways in expressing my thoughts and feelings through this. The Guild has positively influenced my life through its weekly workshop which I found useful and I've been able to interact with Theatre veterans.”
Melika Edmonds
“I am immensely grateful for what theatre has brought to my life; the marvelous friends I have found, the joy of working with those friends and feeling the audience respond. The satisfaction of seeing mature talents at their peak and the excitement of seeing young talents develop. Theatre Guild has also taught me how to focus, think quickly and make do while giving the impression that you’ve got it all under control.”
Nirmala Narine
“The Guild has molded me into the actress I am today with the teachings bestowed upon me by the directors and workshops over the years. It has also opened many doors for me such as modeling, playwriting and stage-managing. I will be forever grateful to this institution and its members.”
Clinton Duncan
“The Theatre Guild has definitely impacted positively on my life. It’s like a home away from home. With all the stresses of home, school, friends, self...it’s the one place I can "get away". I can be whoever, whatever or wherever I want to be without any repercussions. Artistic people have to express themselves continually or they will stifle themselves to death. Theatre Guild allows me to breathe easily and explore my emotions without being considered a lunatic...hence I'm definitely grateful for its existence. “
Mark Luke Edwards
“It's simple.... I live and breathe theatre and drama! So, the Guild has basically facilitated my existence on earth and enabled me to express myself in an art form I totally adore and enjoy....”
Kojo McPherson
Rising playwright, Director and the Guild’s official photographer, sums up the contemporary importance of the Guild “Theatre Guild has been invaluable to me as a creative professional. It is where I've trained myself as a photographer as the Guild's official photographer, received extensive training in filmmaking, and been fortunate enough to be mentored as a playwright for stage ….As a lover of the arts - a 'consumer' - Theatre Guild has become a familiar and frequent watering hole for serious theatre enthusiasts interested in fresh productions and fresh talent.”
Keon Heywood
“The Theatre Guild has guided and continues to guide me through a process of self discovery and self awareness. Theatre has helped me understand the subtext of my life, get deep inside myself and grow up 'internally and intensively'. Being at TG has helped me become a better human being. It also offers me an opportunity to share 'me, and my gifts' with the world.”
Nurriyih Gerrard
“I consider the Theatre Guild to be somewhat of an oasis when my life feels deserted. I have seen the Guild transform from a dilapidated structure to the beautiful edifice that it is today. My first visit to the theatre house was in 2006 when I participated in Gem's Youth Theatre. It was here that I honed my skills as an actress and also learned the basics of speech like enunciation, pronunciation, voice intonation and modulation. The training I received then helped me to excel at the auditions for radio broadcasting in '09 and secure a spot as an announcer/producer at the dynamic NCN. I am generally a lover of the arts but drama is my bias and I credit the Guild for instilling this love and respect for the theatrical arts in me. If you desire to be an eloquent speaker and a fluent reader, or if you would like to rid yourself of timidity and be confident in yourself and your abilities, then join the Theatre Guild! You will never realize your full potential until you do.”
Mark Kazim
“The ongoing weekly "workshop" has greatly helped me improve my craft and it’s a great way of getting youths and anyone interested involved and creating purpose in people's lives. It would be a great addition to the workshops if we can have "guest speakers" every now and then..... Not necessarily actors, anyone that is involved in theatre will help us to better understand the craft. Thank you guys especially those like Malcolm Defreitas who consistently dedicate his time and vast knowledge to the future of the craft. The training helps individuals in everyday life in a positive way. “
Darren McAlmont
“Discipline, respect for others, commitment and dedication are just a few of the attributes I've learned over the years of being a member of The Theatre Guild of Guyana Inc. The Guild has provided a platform for the young (myself included) to develop, enhance and showcase their artistry, for which I am grateful, as I am sure we all are.”
Ladonna Kissoon
“The Theatre Guild is not just a building, it’s a life. Each member is a cell and we all come together to make a body. It’s my home away from home. Being a part of that artistic body. I have grown as an actress, as an artist and as an individual. I am grateful for all my other members. We may not always see eye to eye but we stay as a body in order to function. I love my body, I love the arts.”
Lloyda Garrett
“Since joining the Guild, it has become a sort of sanctuary, a place to commune with artists of like mind, be mentored by people like Dr. Mohamed and to grow as an artist. At 16 years old, when I left school, there was no such place for an aspiring actor and my dreams floundered and died. I am supremely grateful for having the Guild today. It has given me a second chance.”
Errol Chan
“Many people in our society are interested in becoming actors and actresses. But there is a problem barring them from realizing this dream. There is no known institution in Guyana that teaches the art of Drama. Actually there is one, The Theatre Guild. ‘Weh duh deh’ many people reply when I ask them if they know about the Theatre Guild. ‘Oh duh building pon Parade Street’. No, that building is not the Theatre Guild; it is the Theatre or the Playhouse owned by the Theatre Guild. This is the space used for performances to an audience. The Theatre Guild, however, is an Institution whose mission is to keep the Arts alive through workshops such as writing, acting, directing, costume, make-ups, set design, etc. And then showcase these emerging talents through amateur performances. In short the role of the Theatre Guild is to keep the Arts alive. From the day I joined many years ago to this day –it’s done that for me.”
Kelton Jennings
“Being a member of The Guild for over three years has helped to create and develop the vibrant and humble leader that I am today. “TG”,as we fondly call it, became my family after being founder of Unique Arts. I was then tasked with so much more responsibility. Now, I need all the help I can get. Turning to TG made me understand the true meaning of friends and family. Since then, I have directed ten productions which were all held at the TG . Today, I'm proud to say that the Guild has made a positive impact on my life. I pass this on every day to my young students.”