Renowned cultural visionary and Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s longest-serving artistic director Henry Muttoo is returning to the Harquail Theatre stage this fall to direct and produce the psychological drama ‘Agnes of God’.
The production is his first since his retirement from CNCF in December 2021, after spending over four decades in directing, designing and preserving Caribbean theatre and heritage, with some 100 productions presented locally, regionally and internationally.
Muttoo holds specialist qualifications in directing, stage design, acting and stage management. He has earned numerous accolades, including appointment as an officer to the Order of the Cayman Islands, earning a CNCF Heritage Award, a Cayman Cultural Pioneer Award and a doctorate of arts (honoris causa) from UCCI, and being named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
“I’m most happy to be given the opportunity to share, as I have done for so many years in the past, my vast experience and skills with young Caymanians, including the staff of CNCF,” Muttoo told the Cayman Compass.
He added, “It’s been almost four years since I retired and not had the opportunity to direct or be involved meaningfully in the arts, heritage and culture in Cayman. It’s very pleasing to have this opportunity to produce work which, hopefully, reminds our theatre-going public how important the theatre, culture, heritage and the arts are in our lives.”
Agnes of God
The production of John Pielmeier’s ‘Anges of God’, which opens in September, will be directed and designed by Muttoo, who will bring his “signature depth and detail to the stage in what promises to be one of the most anticipated theatrical events of the season”, CNCF said.
The production explores the clash between faith and science. When the body of a newborn is discovered in a convent, psychiatrist Dr. Martha Livingston is called in to uncover the truth. What unfolds is a gripping examination of belief, trauma and the power of storytelling.
Muttoo wrote, “I chose Agnes of God, by John Pielmeier, from a long list of plays I like and could have selected from. It is well crafted, offers three terrific roles to females, and it interrogates a subject I am particularly interested in – the eternal struggle between FAITH and SCIENCE, and the necessity of questioning everything we are asked to believe. Apart from that, the characters are fully drawn, intriguing in a beautifully nuanced manner, and reveal stark realities about human lives.”
Muttoo added, “It is good to be once again associated with the ongoing work of CNCF, albeit from a different seat. I thank them for their kind gesture and hope the work will be challenging and fulfilling for all who take the journey.”
The CNCF is searching for a stage manager to help bring the theatre production to life. CNCF said they want someone who pays “attention to detail, calendar planning, time management, multi-tasking ability, and solution orientation” with availability from August to November.