UWI graduates are everywhere – politics, business, the arts, and as public intellectuals. In the coming months, UWI TODAY will profile some of our high achieving alumni who have made or are making a positive impact on society.
Tramaine Lamy-Westcarr was a singer from small. From her secondary school days travelling to music festivals with her choir to singing in church, her voice was always a vital part of her life.
“The question my dad posed to me was ‘what are you going to do after’?”, says Lamy-Westcarr. She knew that the realm of soca and calypso just didn’t speak to her. But it was when she began her undergrad studies at the Department of Festival and Creative Arts that she was exposed to what would become her passion: musical theatre.
“I remember learning about how much Trinidad and Tobago and the region, by extension, had to offer in terms of the arts,” she says. Her timing was immaculate. She entered the university just as the UWI Arts Chorale was preparing to put on its first musical ‘Crazy for You’. She fell in love with the artform. “That was what I was waiting on.”
It was through her newfound interest that she was first exposed to Heather Headley. That became her north star. Headley, born and raised in Barataria, is now a Tony and Grammy award-winning actress and singer—and the Lion King’s first Nala on Broadway. “When I found that out, as a young Trinbagonian girl... it was sort of kismet to me.”
Her first audition for The Lion King was when she was 17, and she was shortlisted twice when they came to Trinidad. “I asked my grandfather to buy a ticket for me to go to New York to audition for musicals and get exposure out there”. But stepping into the international world of theatre opened her eyes. “I realised that I was really far behind in terms of formal training.” So that was where she put her attention. She worked on vocal training and continuing to audition, so that when the time came for her dream role, she would be ready.
In the meantime, she simultaneously uncovered a knack for teaching and mentoring, and began teaching theatre to secondary school students. Her love for teaching and her love for theatre would end up working in tandem when she finally got the role she had been preparing for.
During a three-year stint with the Disney Cruise Line, she got the call. She was given an offer to join the cast of The Lion King in Madrid. And then another call, for the cast in Brazil. But the timing was off. “I knew it was the show of my dreams. But talking it over with my mom and my family and they said ‘finish the contract you are in now, and then you can do whatever after’.” So, she stayed on the cruise line.
Once she had completed her contract, she moved to South Africa. By this time, she was 27—ten years in from her first audition for a part in her favourite musical. Finally, the timing was right. It was a contract for The Lion King in London. “It was definitely a no-brainer,” says Lamy-Westcarr.
She made her way to the UK, and to the show she had been dreaming of since her time on the DCFA classrooms.
Today, it has been 14 years since Lamy-Westcarr joined the cast of London’s Lion King. She is the company’s longest standing female swing, meaning on any given night she might be playing Rafiki, Sarabi or Shenzi. Her teaching past has also come in handy, as she is also the Children’s Director, ensuring that the actors playing young Simba and young Nala are prepared for their time onstage.
The sound of children’s voices cuts through the interview, and she apologises. “I should have told you before, I have a three-year-old and a one-year-old,” she says with a laugh.
This has shaped a large part of what her day-to-day looks like now, on top of her theatrical responsibilities. “So, in the morning, I’m mommy... then I have to audition, rehearse, and prepare the young Simbas and young Nalas for the show.” But despite the demanding nature of juggling her responsibilities, she feels blessed to be where she is today.
As a teacher and a mother now herself, she understands the value of having role models and mentors to help shape who you will become. For her, Jessel Murray and Louis McWilliams were among the faces at DCFA that helped her to achieve her full potential. “I think it’s important to have cornerstones like Jessel Murray and Louis McWilliams,” she says. Her mentors and peers helped instil in her a value for excellence, and for preparation. “Perhaps that is why I have so many of the qualities I have now.”
Lamy-Westcarr’s story is not an unusual one. She mentions that many Trinbagonians have passed through the various Lion King companies and made a name for themselves onstage. But she serves as a reminder that with determination and passion, we can find our way to where we are meant to be.
