‘Big Yaad Vibes’ gears up for Boxing Day debut

Costumes, choreography, and a catchy chorus were the vivid elements present at the Little Theatre on Thursday as the national pantomime cast and crew worked hard during rehearsal, gearing up for the big opening-night performance on Boxing Day. The Anya Gloudon-Nelson-led team was busy fine-tuning movement and practising lines they know will have audiences laughing.

The national pantomime, which is now 84 years old, is an institution that has been instrumental in launching the careers of such theatre stalwarts as Oliver Samuels, Leonie Forbes, and, of course, Louise Bennett-Coverley and Randolph ‘Ranny’ Williams. The current crop of actors is well aware of the legacy they carry on their shoulders, and as such, are invested in taking pantomime to a whole other level by offering up a production that is both timely and relevant and one they hope will resonate with audiences, both new to the genre as well as others who have come to expect big performances.

This year’s offering, Big Yaad Vibes, is about family dynamics in an almost tenement-like setting where people who share the same space do not always get along, and the best-laid plans can go awry. All of this, Gloudon-Nelson explained, is formatted in a musical that is both comedic and cathartic, especially with what Jamaica just went through. “Big yard is the home of the family called the Vibars, and they live at 50 Poinciana Street, which is a throwback to a previous pantomime called 50/50. The original family has died, and their children now live in the house, and everybody has their issues with each other,” shared Gloudon-Nelson. “Clarissa doesn’t like being there, resents being stuck in this big old house and would like to move uptown and live uptown life. So she works out a plan to try to sell the house from under them, but you know, in true comedic fashion, things will fall apart before they fall together. The story follows how they first work against each other but eventually have to work together to keep the house intact. We also have the character of a poodle dog who comes into the yard, takes over, and plays a pivotal part in the story later on.”

Though previous years have been challenging for the pantomime company, Gloudon-Nelson is confident that the 2025-2026 season has the right formula that should fill seats and, more importantly, remind people what the production actually means to our theatrical culture. “People should come out this year because it will be special. Grub Cooper is on board, so the music is nice. The storyline is relatable, and the kids will love the poodle dog as it is quite endearing and funny. Coincidentally, the main topic right now in Jamaica is housing and shelter, and this is what the story is about: how to keep a roof over your head. So it’s a lot of things that will resonate and also give them a good laugh and take off some of the stress, as it has been a stressful year,” she said.

As a lot of their support comes from groups and schools that are outside of Kingston, the pantomime company intends to set aside proceeds made during the holidays and donate these funds to at least two schools hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa. “Some may not be able to make it to town this year, so we would like to be able to carry a bit of the show to them as well,” Gloudon-Nelson shared.

Big Yaad Vibes features book and lyrics by Gloudon-Nelson, Kevin Halstead as director, music by Cooper, with set and costumes by Duane Bennett. The national pantomime opens on Boxing Day, December 26, at the Little Theatre and also plays on New Year’s Day. Showtime on Boxing Day is 6 p.m. They then take a break until the end of January and run through to May 2026.

nicola.cunningham@gleanerjm.com