Oliver Samuels celebrate 70th Birthday
Date/Time
Date(s) - 15/06/2019 - 16/06/2019
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Location
Broadway Theatre Catford
Categories
Oliver Samuels
70th Birthday Celebration
with a brand New comedy play 56 East Avenue
Oliver Samuel is the undisputed king of comedy and arguably Jamaica’s most compelling theatre voice with a colourful mastery for the Jamaican style; Oliver Samuels has written an incredible chapter in the history of Jamaica and by extension, the Caribbean at large and in June 2019 with his faithful UK fans celebrates his 70thBirthday.
To mark this special occasion he has written and directed one of his most scintillating plays ever titled 56 East Avenue, with sold out performances and great reviews in Jamaica, Caribbean, America, and Canada.
Its is a side splitting, rib tickling, story of life in a ‘Tenament yaad,’ it details the chronicles of a landlord trying to collect rent from delinquent tenants while at the same time creating a comfortable living space for the others.
56 East Avenue is a slice of life from a time when Jamaica was at its most colourful, 1970’s.The late great Jacob Miller’s song sums it up nicely, “Dreadlocks caan live in a tenament yard.”
For the unique production Oliver has handpicked a star studded line up which features his old sparring partner the Great Vollier “Maffy”Johnson, the dynamic Audrey“Dance Hall Queen”Reid, the talented Dennis Titus and Lakesha Ellison
Oliver Adolphus Samuels born St Mary Jamaica, whose involvement in drama began at an early age at seven years old, he and the other children in the area would gather to sing and recite poetry on a Friday nights.
He went to the Dinthill Technical High School, but sadly, his school career at Dinthill offered no scope for the development of his innate dramatic creativity, he enrolled in the Jamaica Theatre School from 1971 to1973.
During these years Oliver participated in various productions. His first play was “A Raisin in the Sun”, in which he was a voice off stage. Subsequently, he played a role as “The Coolie” in the play “Servant of TwoMasters”. The role prompted Gleaner critic, the late Henry Milner to comment that Oliver was “labouring under a misconception”. This statement made Samuels even more determined to prove the critics wrong and it also formed the basis of his inspiration to strive for perfection.
His popularity however increased when he appeared in his first pantomime “MusicBoy” his character “Moon Drops”, then came top role after role, Oliver Samuels quickly become a household name in Jamaica.
Oliver attained more fame in his very funny television series, “Oliver at Large” where he starred with Vollier “Maffy” Johnson. This series established him as one of Jamaica’s greatest actor of comedy and was dubbed abroad as the Bing Crosby of Jamaican comedy.
Oliver goes from strength to strength, a true living legend Celebrating 70 will be an event not to be missed at theatres or venue near you
JUNE 2019
SAT 1ST Nottingham TBA
SUN 2 The Alexandra, Birmingham www.atgtickets.com/birmingham
FRI 7 Bedford Corn Exchange www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk
SAT 8 Hackney Empire London www.hackneyempire.co.uk
SAT 15 Broadway Theatre Catford www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk
SUN 16 Broadway Theatre Catford www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk
