About Us - Secondary Schools Drama Association

ABOUT
US

The Secondary Schools’ Drama Association (SSDA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization registered with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Artists Registry of Trinidad and Tobago, housed at the Culture Division, entrusted with the development of drama and theatre in secondary schools. Established in 1965, the SSDA is led by teachers and supporters of educational institutions from schools across Trinidad and Tobago. The current organizational structure is as follows:

Our VISION & MISSION

The Secondary Schools’ Drama Association (SSDA) seeks to support secondary school teachers and students in their development with drama and theatre through workshops as well as the provision of opportunities for the display of these skills through an annual festival. Its vision is to help strengthen theatrical skills among its members whilst showing the value of drama in the development of the youths in Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the Caribbean.

History of Association

The Secondary Schools Drama Association in Trinidad and Tobago was founded in 1964 by Mr. James Lee Wah and has been in existence for the past 49 years. Two significant periods of tenure can be recognized in the life of the Association: James Lee Wah as President from its inception and during the earlier years, and Victor Edwards as President from 1988 to 2007.

Other Presidents for shorter periods included Steve West, Ann Louise Tam, Naomi Adonis Woodsley (ag.) 2024- 2025, Anderson La Barrie (2009 – 2016 & 2023), Judith Booker (2016 – 2018),Shawn Smart (2025 – ) The main aim of the Association is the bringing awareness of theatre to secondary schools, develop the theatrical skills and talent of teachers and students as well as the facilitation of an annual Drama Festival, where plays produced by secondary schools are staged at venues located throughout the country.

TRACK RECORD

The SSDA can boast of a number of achievements over the years. Some of the more notable successes are as follows:

March, 1996

Launch of Caribbean Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival

The SSDA, initiated the formation of the Caribbean Secondary Schools’ Drama Association in 1994 with the first Caribbean Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival being held in 1996 in partnership with Barbados. Since then the festival was held in Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and Jamaica. The festival still exists, being held every two years, with the last being held in Saint Lucia in 2019. The current president is Mr. Anderson La Barrie.

March, 1996

August, 2003

Introduction of Theatre Art as CSEC Subject

The Association, through its President Victor Edwards, lobbied for, and was instrumental in, the introduction of Theatre Arts as an examinable CSEC subject in 2003.

August, 2003

Thursday, August 28, 2020

Provision of Workshops for Teachers

Providing workshops for secondary school teachers and students in directing, playwriting, stage management, stage makeup and marketing to improve their skills in various areas in theatre.

Thursday, August 28, 2020

Thursday, August 29, 2020

Longest Running Theatre Festival

The SSDA has the longest running theatre festival in Trinidad and Tobago, with only the known interruptions in 1983 and 2020 and 2021.

Thursday, August 29, 2020

ACHIEVEMENTS

The Association has grown from its humble beginnings as a forum to source and train actors for Lee Wah’s San Fernando based Theatre Company to achieving the following:uctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

A national forum for students to explore multiple ways of learning.
The number of participating schools has grown to 40 at its peak, including schools from throughout the country, including Tobago.
By its lobbying efforts for years, Theatre Arts was introduced as an examinable CXC/CSEC subject in Trinidad and Tobago in 2003. The Association, through its President Victor Edwards, was instrumental in spearheading the introduction of Theatre Arts as an examinable CSEC subject in 2003. It thus served as a catalyst for UWI expanding its programme in offering a BA in Theatre arts. Successfully lobbied for the award of national scholarships in 2000. Scholarships have since been awarded.
The Association hosted school productions from Caribbean countries: Barbados in 1992 and St. Vincent in 1993.

The annual festival extended its wings to form and develop the bi-annual Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival in 1994. Initiated the Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival in 1994. We have since hosted two other successful Caribbean festival the last being in 2015.
Sponsorship was secured for the period 1989 to 1992 (from the following companies-The Trinidad and Tobago Methanol Company, from Telecommunications Service of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) and Petrotrin.
Evaluation of performance at all levels started in 1988 resulting in benefits for all schools and not only those at the final level.
The production of a Dinner & Theatre in December 2010.

The longest running festival in the history of such associations in Trinidad and Tobago (since 1965). Many award winning plays were established though the festival -The Ritual by Zeno Constance and Games by Victor Edwards just to name two. Such productions have now become part of the field of study in schools and tertiary institutions. We also encourage the writing and producing of new pieces of work which reflect our society and fosters national development.
The organization of a national HIV awareness campaign using drama in secondary schools – through training workshops in playwriting, dramaturgy and staging of productions in 2005.
Lobbied with the Trinidad Theatre Workshop (TTW) in awarding acting scholarships to outstanding students in acting. This has been happening since 2009.
Archiving all scripted work via a database so members can have easy access to this when needed.
Filming of all work since 2008 and distributing to schools for the purpose of education and research.

Hosted a very successful Cultural Camp (“Remember When…) during the July vacation of 2013 which focused on the education of our youths on traditional games indigenous to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (hop scotch, moral, zwill making, ring games) This was done with the hope of having more active youths and individuals who can pass on local traditions to others.
Based on fundraisers and support of private and public groups and individuals, we were able to take one of the most outstanding productions of the 2012 season to Barbados in December 2013 to represent the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival. Scripted and performed by students of (Presentation College, San Fernando) they copped awards in acting, set design and production elements.
Hosted a successful Caribbean Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival (2015) in both Trinidad and Tobago.
Hosted cultural camps in 2013 – 2015 including Easter camps in 2015 and 2016, 2017 and 2023.
Streamlined previously recorded drama festivals on YouTube and worked with curriculum to support the teachers and students with the needed resource materials during the 2020 – 2022 pandemic period.