Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

It was once a glorious place, but now the Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston is urgently in need of repairs.

The theatre, which is a national monument, has been in a deplo-rable state for many years. Recently, the theatre received a well-needed $20-million grant from the Jamaican Government.

However, the Ward Theatre Foundation's vice-chairperson, Doreen Thompson, said that money will not be enough to fully repair the building.

The Ward Theatre, established in 1912, was donated to the city of Kingston by Colonel Charles Ward. It is the third theatre at the North Parade location. Previously, the Kingston Theatre and the Theatre Royal were sited there.

Theatrical presentations

For years, the Ward hosted elaborate theatrical presentations and was also the home of the National Pantomime. A host of outstanding performers have made their presence felt at the Ward, including Louise Bennett, Ranny Williams, Madge Sinclair, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the European Community Chamber Orchestra and the Centro Pro Danza from Cuba.

It is a sorry sight now. Paint has stripped off the building and the structure itself is crumbling. In addition, vendors, homeless people and taxi operators make the environs of the building their daily location.

Thompson said the Ward Theatre has been closed for the last two months. Now, as a result of Hurricane Dean and Tropical Storm Gustav, holes have opened up in the roof, destroying the stage and seating. The roof opened up and water has been pouring in for weeks," Thompson told The Sunday Gleaner.

Infrastructure damaged

She said the first stage of the repair work started on the roof last week. Work is then to be done on the ceiling, stage and infrastructure damaged by the rain.

The theatre's interior needs to be completely renovated, including the ornaments and decorations inside the Victorian-style building. Thompson said equipment will also have to be modernised. "There is air conditioning, which is 40 years old. We also have to replace those and we are talking million and millions of dollars," she said.

Over the years, the Ward Theatre Foundation has been doing renovations to the building, such as changing the seats and replacing the flooring and carpets. In December 2007, they hosted a mediathon, hoping to raise $10 million for the theatre's maintenance. However, that has not been enough.

Benefit concert

"Although the (Ward Theatre) foundation has been able to do renovation work over the years, what has happened now is a crisis," Thompson said.

To raise funds for further repairs, today the foundation will host a benefit concert, Christmas Echoes, at the Bank of Jamaica Auditorium at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The concert will feature Grammy-nominated international mezzo soprano, Victoria Livengood, Roger Williams, Rory Baugh and Touch of Elegance with Paulette Bellamy, Dr Carol Ball and Alex Blanken Martin

Thompson hopes the concert will be a success. But even when the proceeds are coupled with the Government's grant, she still does not believe it will be enough. "The concert is only a drop in the bucket. I can't tell (how much money will be raised), but we are trying our best," Thompson said.

She also said she hopes the Government's assistance will be ongoing. "We sent a business plan and estimate for further restoration, but we do not know exactly how much we are going to get," Thompson told The Sunday Gleaner.

She said the private sector has assisted in the past and she hopes for even more in the future.