News Releases

UWI Arts Steel and Chorale Present Anansi Say

For Release Upon Receipt - April 24, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – April 24, 2026 – In celebration of a distinguished Legacy Year, the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St Augustine Campus, proudly presents ‘Anansi Say’.

This suite of steel orchestral pieces, composed by Professor Jeannine Remy in her final semester after a long and accomplished career at The UWI, unfolds as an allegorical tale that draws on the richness of the DCFA - music, dance, drama, and the visual arts.  This event, for one evening only, takes place at the Winnifred Atwell Auditorium at Queen’s Hall on Friday May 1, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

This world premiere event follows the critically acclaimed premiere of Professor Remy’s ‘Dancing on Steel’ in 2024 which was performed by The UWI Arts Steel and Festival Dance Ensemble and screened internationally at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC) in that year.

‘Anansi Say’ was inspired and shaped by sayings from Trinidad and Tobago. It is a programmatic work that interprets the lessons learned from the tales of Anansi, a West African trickster character who inadvertently imparts wisdom, knowledge, insight, and morality.

Encoded in concise cultural axioms ‘Anansi Say’ is not just a collection of precepts, but each one is a microcosm of lived experience and cultural expression. The UWI Arts Steel, conducted by Jessel Murray and The UWI Festival Dance Ensemble, choreographed by Joanna Charles, will once again partner to bring this work to life supported by DCFA student actor and dancer Zerkiphe Francis, who will play the title role of Anansi. Brendon LaCaille is the dramaturge while Rachel Rochford and Michael Norgriff will supervise the visual elements of the production. As an added treat for the audience, Professor Remy will be the principal percussionist.

In keeping with the spirit of folk tradition, The UWI Arts Chorale will perform the celebrated ‘Misa Criolla’ (Creole Mass) by Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez.  The ‘Misa Criolla’ is a famed setting of the Mass which utilises Spanish language set to pulsating South American rhythms. The Chorale will also dip into its vast treasury of sacred works inclusive of spirituals and gospel music and will feature a surprise soloist.

In the last few years, The UWI Arts Steel and The UWI Arts Chorale have gained a following in Trinidad and Tobago with their eagerly awaited premieres of choral/orchestral works. Most recently, The UWI Arts Steel collaborated with the Caribbean School of Dance in their acclaimed performance of the ‘Coconut Cracker’ at Queen’s Hall.  ‘Coconut Cracker’ was an adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker for Steel Orchestra by Professor Remy.

This joint production of ‘Anansi Say’ promises to be an unforgettable cultural experience that will showcase the DCFA in all its diversity for which it has become renowned over the last four decades.

Tickets, $200 general seating, are available at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain and DCFA at Gordon Street and from members of the participating ensembles. For more information, call 272-DCFA (3232) or email uwi.arts.chorale@gmail.com ; uwi.arts.steel@gmail.com or dcfa@sta.uwi.edu.

 

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 About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region.

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

 

 

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