The Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts theatre was set ablaze last night at the ‘Pitchy Patchy’ gala event, a vibrant theatre performance that left its audience in fits of laughter and immersed in the essence of Jamaica’s rich culture.

Directed by award-winning theatre maker Rayon McLean and executive producer, Kasandra Henry, the play consists of a series of short comedic sketches, songs, and dances that not only entertained but also explored areas such as Jamaican myths, popular culture, and social media.

Pitchy Patchy brings together some of Jamaica’s most popular social media influencers with some known theatre and film actors. The cast includes Desmond ‘The Jamaican Actor Boy’ Dennis, Wayne Mitchell, Keticia ‘TC’ Chatman, Joylene Alexander-Hall, Sanneta Myrie, Danar ‘Dan Dan’ Royal, Tanaania Tracey, and Melbourne ‘Dburnz’ Douglaz.

The gala event was well-attended, with scores of spectators enjoying the pre-show event activities and cocktail hour that occurred before the actors took stage. Social media influencers were also out in their numbers to support their peers, with faces such as Rohan ‘Quite’ Perry, Kerry- Ann ‘ChineyK’ Collins, Shelby Bradshaw, and more.

When the actors took centre stage, spectators were treated to nine sketches that each awarded them with social commentary. Whether it was a depiction of Generation Z in the workplace, the ‘Barbie versus Kenroy’ scene, or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and her wig collection, spectators were toppling over in their chairs, eyes lit with excitement and joy as their laughter filled the room.

The set design and costumes, brimming with vibrant colours and reggae-inspired fashion, also captured the spirit of Jamaica, transporting the audience to their childhood days with the playground scene and highlighting different events in modern media.

However, the closing skit, which saw cast members engaged in a sound clash, was the icing on the cake of a well-crafted performance and a true representation of Jamaican culture. The music, featuring iconic reggae tunes and dancehall beats, had the audience members jumping out of their seats as they sang throughout the entire performance.

Audience members also raved about the show as they left the theatre, praising its ability to celebrate Jamaica’s culture while providing an amusing, feel-good experience.

“I thought it was a wonderful play. It was exciting, it was funny, and it kept my attention for the entire time, so it was wonderful. I definitely loved the schoolroom scene, and I liked the sound clash. I also liked when they included the audience in the school challenge quiz. I thought that was funny. I had a lot of good moments,” said Tara Rose, a spectator at the event.

“I enjoyed it. I believe it’s something new in entertainment, and I like the innovative skills that were brought to the table. I truly believe it is something that should be supported and built upon,” shared Dyshone Clarke, another spectator.

“It was lovely. I enjoyed every aspect of it, how they had just the different plays and how they incorporated Jamaican culture. I loved everything. It was really funny as well, ” added Des-Angelo Pennant.

The event also featured preshow performances that treated guests to some soulful tunes before the main event. Attendees also had multiple food and drink options for patrons to enjoy from their sponsors. Picture booths also lined the premises, providing multiple options for people to take fun and vibrant photos.

The performance was also praised by Shanique Craig-Burke, marketing manager for Rocketship Courier Services, a sponsor for the gala event. She shared that the play’s debut performance was exceptional, and having witnessed its success, Rocketship decided it could not miss an opportunity to support the second staging.

“It is a great initiative. The show is very nice, and we just wanted to be a part of something great. We have other people who work with the company who have seen the show, and they have said that it was a great experience and they love it They’re coming back to watch it. We have customers who ship with Rocket Ship who went and watched the show, and they were like it is so good they had to do it twice, and they came back to purchase their ticket,” shared Craig-Burke.

This is the second staging of Pitchy Patchy. The event was first launched in 2022, and received high accolades from spectators who shared they thoroughly enjoyed the performances.