In 2010, an aspiring, young playwright with lofty ambitions decided to take what could have been considered a negative situation, pressed forward and today he is reaping the rewards.

That youngster was Fabian Barracks. Today, he heads his own production outfit, Barracks Entertainment, is a three-time Actor Boy Award winner and this weekend he goes into the Actor Boy Awards with a total of nine nominations spread over two productions, and is steadily carving out a name for himself in the world of local theatre.

However, 10 years ago he hit a low, which for many could have derailed his journey. Barracks poured himself into a script and when the Little Theatre Movement (LTM), which produces the annual National Pantomime, issued a call for scripts he eagerly submitted, hoping this would be the break he dreamt about. It was not to be.

“I was always into drama,. From my days at primary and high school I grew up on festival and the JCDC (Jamaica Cultural Development Commission) competitions. I later shifted focus and wanted to become a writer and producer. So when the LTM called for scripts for the pantomime I sent mine and it was rejected. They showed me all the flaws of my work, but I determined. I thought my play, Family Remedy, was great and should be on stage so I decided to produce it myself,” said Barracks.

The process of bringing a work from page to stage was a sharp learning curve for Barracks but he was not daunted. The play received bad reviews but he say the proverbial silver lining.

“Even though the reviews were bad I was pleased as this was the first time I was being featured in the newspaper and I saw it as a way of making my work better. So there was no time to feel sorry for myself. So I just kept doing it again and again until the reviews got better. It was then time to keep growing and in 2019 I opened Barracks Entertainment, which also includes a small theatre space to stage my productions,” he shared with the Jamaica Observer.

Barracks Entertainment is among the production houses with multiple nominations for this year’s Actor Boy Awards for their two productions Ananda Alert and Force Ripe.

Ananda Alert, which takes its name from the response protocol initiated following the spate of murders involving young children, is nominated for Best Original Song, Block Dem; Best Comedy, Best Supporting Actress Shantol Jackson and Gracia Thompson, Best Sound Design and Best Children’s Theatre.

Force Ripe is up for Best Special Effects; Best Supporting Actress, Gracia Thompson and Best Children’s Theatre.

“I am so pleased with these nominations. For me it gives an added light of hope that we so need during these times. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of the entertainment industry we have had to close our doors. We don’t know how long this will last and we are currently in a state of limbo. These nominations and this recognition gives me that hope, something to hold on just a little bit longer. The truth is when I am writing plays the Actor Boy Awards is the furthest thing from my mind. I am about empowering young people.”

“I find it challenging to write for a youth audience and being able to strike that balance between providing entertainment so that an audience will sit and watch for two hours, while at the same time provide information and education what will result in social behavior change. The message has to be clear, not trivialised and certainly not watered down to fit into commercial values,” said Barracks.

He noted that this formula has worked with for him especially with Ananda Alert, which he said has been doing a school tour across the island for some time now.

“There is nothing watered down about Ananda Alert. We are dealing with a serious matter. I need the full attention of my audience for two and a half hours so we have to use various devices including comedy. But you see the impact on the audience. Some cannot take the heaviness of the story at time and have to step out of the theatre for a few minutes. Others break down in tears. There is nothing fictional, it is all rooted in reality. That is another reason why I am grateful for the recognition by the Actor Boy Awards. This says that they can see the value in what we are doing. That says a lot for me,” said Barracks.