The cast of A Little Folktale has been rehearsing enthusiastically for Saint Lucia’s biggest night at Carifesta XIV.

It is an even bigger occasion for the play’s two young Saint Lucian writers—20-year-old Monique Auguste and 19-year-old Jesse Mayers. Their masterpiece, A Little Folktale, started as a secondary school project highlighting Saint Lucian folklore characters.

“It started off as a piece that I did in theater arts class, about a book that brings to life whatever is written in it. The background story is of Saint Lucian folklore characters: the La Diablesse, soucouyant, and ‘ti bolom,” Monique said.

A Little Folktale became a theatre production at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College when Monique was asked to write a play for the school. She reflected on the secondary school research project and the many folktales that excited her imagination over the years. It was then that she teamed up with Jessie Mayers, a stage manager, to write and produce the play now getting international attention at Carifesta 2019.

“I had heard all these stories from my grandmother when I was little, and I noticed that not many people pass on those legends anymore, so I thought it would have been interesting to highlight,” Monique said. “This has been a very exciting and humbling experience. It started off as a very small project for drama club. So alot of effort was put into this, but we didn’t expect it to go so far.”

Co-writer Jessie Mayers, added: “We had a lot of fun writing the play. We mesh really well together. We have a similar sense of humor and a similar writing style so sitting down with Monique was always fun.”

The two hope their journey, and the play, will inspire young writers to explore their culture and to keep writing.

“I would advise young artists and writers to get out there and create content. I think one of the reasons the play was well received is because it was written with a young voice but it also bridges the gap to the older generation,” Monique said.

A Little Folktale was commissioned by the Cultural Development Foundation after director Drenia Frederick spotted its potential and cross-generational appeal.

The play will be staged today, Friday, Aug. 23, in Trinidad.