Stuart Brown (right) plays a piece from Breighton Street with musical translator Mark Bernard. -Michael Sloley HE PLAYED James the Disciple in the Father Richard Holung and Friends-produced Jesus 2000. And in just a few weeks, for two nights at Stephanie Hall, Holy Childhood, Stuart Brown will again thrill Jamaicans. The Campion student will launch his second theatrical production 'Breighton Street', the musical story of the trials of a young Jamaican boy and his family growing up in rural Jamaica.
He wrote, produced and will direct the production which is his first action musical and second theatrical production.
And he is only 17.
"This is nothing less than a phenomenal challenge," Stuart told Youth Link, "you have to know what you want to do. To succeed, you have to know the economics of the market and your audience."
But from the rave reactions to his 1999 production, These are the special times, success is more or less guaranteed.
"Everything ran smoothly," he said of These are the special times, "we had it in the church (Holy Cross Church) hall, and the place was so packed that we had to make more room, it was just phenomenal."
Breighton Street, a 12 scene play, with 15 musical 'Stuart written' numbers has a cast of 14-25 year olds, a mixed group of Campion students and young people from Stuart's church. The production includes jazz, pop music, ska, reggae and a mix of classical tunes.
"The writing part was easy," he said, "I can sit in my room and write and write. It's Mark Bernard who has to translate it, this can be frustrating. In the end though, he admits that "the tracks can be compared to a 35-40 piece orchestra."
"The good thing about Breighton Street is that you'll laugh, you'll cry, and in the end you'll love it," he said.
Performing was an art that stared early for Stuart.
"From I was very young, I've always loved to perform," he said. "I'd use one of the baby 'counting cones' as a microphone, and sing my heart out, by high school, performing was a sure thing."
He mentioned his 15-year-old friend Michael Barnes, who died in a motor vehicle accident in 1998 as one who had a great impact on his choice to produce.
"Michael shared the same interest in performing and putting out a good production. He wanted me to join Father Holung and Friends but I hesitated, it was after he died that everything came into perspective, I realised that there was a calling there, and I joined in late 1998."
He then went on to form the youth choir at his church and to performing in various concerts, and doing his second love aviation. He did a junior certificate course in aviation at Wings Jamaica.
"After A' levels, everything should be fresh in my mind," he said. "I plan to be a pilot in the theatre, a 'theatrical pilot'," he laughed, "and also go to UWI to do something in psychology."
At the moment, he is doing Geography, Math, Economics and General Paper in upper sixth.
"I've had my own struggles," he said, "I am aware that I've had it better than many persons my age, but anyone can have a very difficult life, I believe it all has to do with the person, you can sit back and be depressed or move to turn things around."
Stuart is also director of the Holy Cross Youth Choir, is vice-president of the Campion College choir and is a member of the Chrysalids quartet singing group.
He lives at home in Red Hills, St. Andrew, with his parents and younger brother.
"I would like someday to build my own theatre and name it the Michael Barnes Centre for the Arts," he said. "I'd also love to develop a hub to gather all young people with talent in the island and put on one of the biggest productions ever staged, then I want to direct the opening ceremony at the Olympics."
And while he waits for his dreams to become reality, A levels are just a couple of months away, so the A-B student studies, "during rehearsals, after, between and at the dining table," because come December 16th-17th, he has a whole new challenge, to uplift the Arts in Jamaica and prove that he is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
