ALBERT LAVEAU

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LAVEAU, ALBERT

BIOGRAPHY

A senior founding member of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Albert Laveau comes from the south of Trinidad - the center of the country's oil industry. Not surprisingly, he first worked as a technician in an oil refinery. During this time he was a founding member of the now defunct Carnegie Players. He lists among his credits the leading roles in the productions of "The First Born", "Dark of the Moon", "Moon for the Misbegotten" and "Tartuffe".

His later move north led to his introduction to Derek Walcott and the Trinidad Theatre Workshop.

Mr. Laveau's passion for the stage inspired him to develop his considerable talent as an actor in many of Walcott's plays - he played Basil and Corporal Lestrade in Dream on Monkey Mountain, Hounakin in Sea at Dauphin, and Christophe in Henri Christophe. He is probably best remembered for his role as the Devil inTi-Jean and his Brothers, indeed it was his performance of this role in the Joseph Papp production of the play in New York's Central Park that led to a four-year stint in the American theatre.

While in the States, he worked with Joe Papp at the Public Theatre and was guest director at New York University's MFA Program. He became resident director with the Negro Ensemble and played in their touring production of The River Niger by Richard Walker for one year. He also directed the annual musical for the National Center for Afro-American Artists in Roxbury in 1973 - a production entitled The Black Preacher. He directed Walcott's Dream for the Center Stage in Baltimore in 1976.

Returning home at the age of 40, Mr. Laveau involved himself in every aspect of the local theatre: directing, acting and making television and radio commercials. He developed his woodworking skills and became well-respected for his set design and construction. He also taught Acting and Set Design at the Creative Arts Centre in its early years.

As artistic director of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, he has initiated a number of programs to help train young performers. He is passionate in his desire to develop the Trinidad Theatre Workshop into a community-based school for the arts with a thriving resident company.

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