Louis Marriott

Louis Marriott
Born	22 May 1935 Saint Andrew, Jamaica
Died	1 August 2016 (aged 81) Kingston, Jamaica
Nationality	Jamaican
Occupation	Actor, director, writer, broadcaster

Louis Marriott (born 22 May 1935) was a Jamaican actor, director, writer, broadcaster,^[1] the executive officer of the Michael Manley Foundation, and member of the Performing Right Society,^[2] Jamaica Federation of Musicians, and founding member of the Jamaica Association of Dramatic Artists.^[3][4]

Marriott was born on the Old Pound Road, Saint Andrew, Jamaica, the son of Egbert Marriott and Edna Irene Thompson-Marriott. He was educated at Jamaica College. He died in Kingston at age 81 on August 1, 2016.

Career

• Government public relations officer - late 1950s^[5]
• Editor, public opinion 1960-62^[6]
• Assistant public relations officer – Ninth Central American and Caribbean Games (Kingston) 1962
• Press officer – first anniversary Jamaica Independence Festival 1963
• Deputy editor of publications – Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (C.P.A.) General Council (London) 1965-70 (lectured widely in Britain on Commonwealth and Caribbean affairs 1965-72. Was consultant-advisor for several C.P.A. conferences in the Caribbean and West Africa 1967-70)
• BBC radio writer and producer 1970-71^[7][8]
• Director Jamaica Independence Festival (London) 1972
• Press secretary to Prime Minister of Jamaica 1973 and 1979-80^[9]
• Assistant director – National Literacy Programme Communications 1973-74
• Director-general Information Incorporated 1974-76
• Chief organizer – Food and Drink '75 Exhibition (National Arena) July 1975
• Director publications and advertising Agency for Public Information 1976-79
• Freelance writer 1980–present - for CFNI, PAHO, WHO, Jamaica Gleaner, among several national and international bodies, and writer, director, and producer of several stage productions
• Executive officer - Michael Manley Foundation, 2000–present^[10]

Theatre

Marriott wrote and directed for stage, and acted^{[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}

• Public Mischief (1957)
• The Shepherd (1960)
• Phineas McUmbridge (1961)
• The Baiting of Reuben (1963)
• A Pack of Jokers (1978)^[19]
• More Jokers (1980)
• The New Jokers (1981)^[19]
• Playboy (1981)^[20][21]
• Pressure (1982)^[22]
• Office Chase (1982)^[22]
• How to Make Money (1983)
• Singer Man (1984)
• Bedward (1984, 2004) (reprisal of The Shepherd)^{[23][24][25][26]}
• Women (1984)
• Lovey (1985)
• Over the Years (1985, 2010)^[27][28]
• One Stop Driver (1988) (co-written with Alvin Campbell)
• Last of the Jokers (1988) (co-written with Alvin Campbell, Lavinia Marriott and Karen Marriott)
• The Adventure of Charlie Greenhorne (1991)
• Funny Biz Niz (1992)
• Life in Jamaica (1998)^[19]
• Rosie (1999)
• The Year 2000 (2000)

Marriott wrote several books^[22] including:

• Gold Rush – Jamaican Style – Jamaica in World Athletics 1948–92 (1992) (co-written with Alvin Campbell)
• Who's Who and What's What in Jamaican Arts and Entertainment (1995)^[29][30]

Journalism

Marriott authored syndicated articles appearing in some 200 English-Language newspapers and magazines throughout the world. He was a regular guest writer in several Jamaican newspaper publications.^[31][32] He wrote and produced numerous radio and television plays and documentary broadcast programmes and films in both Jamaica and Britain. He wrote The University of Brixton^[7] radio drama series for BBC English Radio 1970-71. He wrote several public education radio series for the CFNI (Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute) during his freelance years.

References

1. Discover Jamaica
2. The Original Soundtrack From "Countryman".
3. "Theatre groups to form umbrella association", Jamaica Gleaner.
4. JADA - Big Plans for the Future.
5. "Nostalgia kept Hartley Neita's adrenaline flowing".
6. 'Federation a Buyers' Syndicate', Public Opinion.
7. Louis Marriott, "The Jamaican language issue - Part 1", Jamaica Gleaner, 17 September 2006.
8. "Race and the press".
9. Howard Campbell, "1970'S FLASHBACK - The media and Michael Manley", Jamaica Gleaner, 30 May 2006.
10. Howard Campbell, "'Joshua' and the rod of correction", Jamaica Gleaner, 18 July 2007.
11. Jamaica's soul and spirit.
12. Caribbean Playwrights.
13. "One to One - An interview with Jamaican playwright and actor Louis Marriott".
14. A History of African American Theatre.
15. 40 Years of Jamaica's Independence: Outstanding Playwrights, Outstanding Producers.
16. Andrew Clunis, "Charles Hyatt at 70", The Jamaica Gleaner.
17. PJ gets dramatic for PNP conference
18. Michael Reckord, "Playwrights in waiting", Jamaica Gleaner, 26 January 2003.
19. Tanya Batson-Savage, "Laughter soothes bitter pills", Jamaica Gleaner, 20 June 2004.
20. 'Love Games' takes Centerstage
21. FRIENDS ON FRIENDS: Fae Ellington - a multi-talented Jamaican.
22. Google Books.
23. The Return of Bedward.
24. BEDWARD A theatrical feast comes to an end.
25. On Bedward: Ahead of their time.
26. "We need an advancement of literacy", Jamaica Gleaner, 29 March 2004.
27. "Marriott show to honour icons", The Gleaner.
28. Year-long celebration for Louis Marriott's 75th birthday.
29. Who's Who.
30. Tanya Batson-Savage, "J'can theatre is no play thing", Jamaica Gleaner, 19 October 2003.
31. "Louis Marriott's columns delightful", Jamaica Gleaner.
32. Marriott speaks on linguistics.