01/05/2026
A message from Philip A. Burrows:
In 1981 when I returned to The Bahamas from studying theatre at the National Theatre Institute at The Eugene O’Neil Theater Center and before that The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, I was invited by then Dundas Chairman, Winston V. Saunders to become the Artistic Director of the Dundas Centre. The Repertory Season was introduced that year and for the past 45 years I have held that position.
Over the past 18 years, since the introduction of Shakespeare in Paradise, Nicolette Bethel and I have worked on building a theatre that will continue to strive to achieve the best in theatre after us. I learned a valuable lesson in 2000 after returning from Canada for a three-year appointment as a Theatre Arts teacher. Upon my return, the theatre that my team and I had built was on life support because of my team’s dependence on only me. From that point to now we have been determined that something like that would never happen again, so we embarked on various in-house programs to train people to be able to step into numerous roles in the theatre at any time.
Erin Knowles had assisted both myself and Gordon Mills on Shakespeare productions early on in Shakespeare in Paradise and one day in 2014 upon observing her at a rehearsal for the play “Colored Girls” guiding a fellow actor on developing her character I proposed to the Ringplay Board of Directors that she be invited to serve as an executive member as I could see that she had a good insight about theatre direction and what it takes to lead others. Shortly after joining the Board, she became a Resident Director for the company and then the Associate Artistic Director, a position that she now holds.
Early on I pushed Erin into the deep end by asking her to direct an Independence celebration production that I was scheduled to direct and couldn’t because I was travelling. She took on that task and brilliantly executed the job. She followed that up with several critically acclaimed productions like her own version of “Richard III”, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “The Children’s Teeth” and number of other productions including, “Junkanoo in Paradise.”
Nicolette has often stated that Erin is my “spiritual child”. I assume that she means that we have a similar approach to how we work and that neither of us suffer fools gladly. I can think of no one more capable of taking on the role of Artistic Director at the Dundas at this time.
The following was not planned but I found it most fitting that the outgoing Artistic Director and in the incoming Artistic Director worked together codirecting James Baldwin’s “The Amen Corner” last year. This process was comfortable, stress free and most enjoyable for both of us.
I am confident that Erin will thrive in this position, and she knows that I will always be available to offer advice if needed.
