A Noble Celebration to Honour Iconic Dance and Theatre Visionary Noble Douglas

Noble Douglas (center), with Lilliput Co-founder Tony Hall (left), and Director - Wendell Manwarren (right). Photo credit: Maria Nunes

Lilliput Children’s Theatre and the Noble Douglas Dance Company mark 50 and 40 years with a spectacular salute to founder Noble Douglas

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago — This May, Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural landscape will be lit with legacy as A Noble Celebration takes centre stage—a theatrical gala honouring the incomparable Noble Douglas, a “true, true Saltfish”, steeped in everything good and enduring in the local arts.

The event, set for Queen’s Hall, St. Ann’s on Saturday, May 17th (Gala Night) and Sunday, May 18th (Matinee), celebrates two major milestones: the 50th anniversary of Lilliput Children’s Theatre and the 40th anniversary of the Noble Douglas Dance Company Inc. (NDDC).

As its name suggests, A Noble Celebration is no ordinary show. The production embraces stylistic hyperbole—soaring rhetoric, elaborate visuals, and theatrical grandeur—in keeping with the spirit of the woman it honours. “With a name like Noble, we had no choice but to go big,” says Director Wendell Manwarren. “From regal costumes to bold storytelling, everything reflects the generosity and greatness Noble has poured into the arts for over five decades.”

The evening unfolds with senior performers as princely Pierrots—comperes and storytellers—flanked by younger performers as their pages and squires. Together, they guide audiences through a story shaped by joy, resilience, discipline, and passion—hallmarks of Noble’s enduring legacy.

In a powerful tribute to her choreographic impact, veteran dancers from the Noble Douglas Dance Company return to the stage to revive works from iconic shows. Pieces like Bago, choreographed by Delton Frank, which weaves Tobago’s traditional jig into its composition, and the rhythmically rich Red Clay (Allan Balfour) and Rum and Salvation (Reggie Wilson), reflect her ability to root contemporary movement in Caribbean history and cultural identity. Esteemed dancers and choreographers Allan Balfour, Dave Williams and Kevin Jack will bring these pieces to life, offering audiences a vivid window into the body of work she has inspired.

Through Carnival, dance, drama, and decades of mentorship, Noble Douglas has empowered generations to dream boldly and express themselves with confidence. Even during the darkest days of the pandemic, she remained undaunted—tough as nails and soft like putty when it came to those she nurtured.

A Noble Celebration is a long-overdue giving of flowers to a cultural icon whose impact continues to shape the soul of Trinidad and Tobago’s performing arts.

Event Details:

A Noble CelebrationVenue: Queen’s Hall, St. Ann’s

Date: Saturday, May 17 (Gala Evening) and Sunday, May 18 (Matinee)

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