Chadd Cumberbatch
{{Short description|Montserratian dramatist and poet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chadd Cumberbatch
| honorific_suffix = OBE
| birth_name = Chadd Alphonso Fitzgerald Cumberbatch
| nationality = Montserratian
| education = Brighton Polytechnic
University of the West Indies
| occupation = Visual and Performing Artist
| notable_works = Yaya Surfeit (2010) Poetry collection
| website =
}}
Chadd Alphonso Fitzgerald Cumberbatch OBE is a Montserratian visual and performing artist, playwright and poet.
Early life and education
Chadd Cumberbatch was born in Montserrat. He studied Fashion Textiles at Brighton Polytechnic, and then returned to Montserrat where he worked as a teacher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bocaslitfest.com/participant/chadd-cumberbatch/|title=Chadd Cumberbatch|website=Bocas Lit Fest}} From 2011 to 2014, he took a double major in Theatre Arts and Carnival Studies at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnialive.com/articles/an-evening-with-dramatist-and-poet-chadd-cumberbatch-at-olveston-house-montserrat/|title=An Evening with Dramatist and Poet Chadd Cumberbatch at Olveston House, Montserrat|date=1 January 2001|website=MNI Alive}}
Creative works
Cumberbatch published his first collection of poetry, Yaya Surfeit: Mellonie Boy Dancing on My Head (Fabwan, Montserrat) in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://discovermni.com/2010/06/23/new-book-ya-ya-surfeit-by-montserrat-playwright-chadd-cumberbatch/|title=New Book: Ya Ya Surfeit by Montserrat Playwright, Chadd Cumberbatch|date=23 June 2010|website=Discover Montserrat}}{{Cite web|url=https://antiguanice.com/client.php?id=114&news=991|title=Antigua Shopping and Gifts: The Best of Books & Made In Antigua.|website=antiguanice.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://mountainaglow.com/article/plymouth-a-buried-capital/|title=Plymouth: A Buried Capital}} He has written and directed numerous plays, including Plenty Plenty Yac Ya Ya (2006); Every Wowlah House (2015), to mark the 20th anniversary of the eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat;{{Cite web|url=https://discovermni.com/2015/08/07/see-every-wowlah-house-tonight/|title=See Every Wowlah House Tonight!|date=7 August 2015|website=Discover Montserrat}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnialive.com/articles/review-of-chadd-cumberbatch-s-play-every-wowlah-house/|title=Review of Chadd Cumberbatch's Play "Every Wowlah House"|date=1 January 2001|website=MNI Alive}} and 1768 (2018), a re-imagining of the March 17 uprising on Montserrat in 1768.{{Cite web|url=https://discovermni.com/2018/03/20/1768-a-theatric-reimagining-of-st-patricks-day-250-years-ago/|title=1768: A Theatric Reimagining of St. Patrick's Day 250 Years Ago|date=20 March 2018|website=Discover Montserrat}}
From 2015 to 2019, he was director of the Montserrat Arts Council.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnialive.com/articles/chadd-cumberbatch-appointed-director-of-montserrat-arts-council/|title=Chadd Cumberbatch Appointed Director of Montserrat Arts Council|date=1 January 2001|website=MNI Alive}} This role included overseeing and managing national festivals and events, helping to generate economic activity, and preserving and promoting Montserrat's culture.{{Cite web|url=https://discovermni.com/2015/04/08/chadd-cumberbatch-is-new-director-of-arts-council/|title=Chadd Cumberbatch is New Director of Arts Council|date=8 April 2015|website=Discover Montserrat}} Cumberbatch was succeeded in 2019 by Nerissa Golden.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themontserratreporter.com/nerissa-golden-named-acting-director-of-the-montserrat-arts-council/|title=Nerissa Golden Named Acting Director of the Montserrat Arts Council|first=Bennette|last=Roach}} Cumberbatch has represented Montserrat at international cultural festivals, including the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), and the Bocas Lit Fest on Trinidad and Tobago.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themontserratreporter.com/montserrat-represents-at-carifesta/|title=Montserrat represents at CARIFESTA|first=Bennette|last=Roach}} His work has been performed and published internationally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.433536.1b5c8662b4|title=Packed house at Tea Time Poetry|first=Shivanee|last=Ramlochan}}{{Cite web|url=https://discovermni.com/2019/02/11/montserrat-poetry-to-be-featured-on-uk-radio/|title=Montserrat Poetry to Be Featured on UK Radio|date=11 February 2019|website=Discover Montserrat}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.themontserratreporter.com/montserratians-write-and-publish/|title=Montserratians write and publish|first=Bennette|last=Roach}}
Cumberbatch is one of a number of Montserratian writers and poets, along with Howard Fergus, Yvonne Weekes, Archie Markham and others, whose work has captured the story of the island through the volcanic eruptions of 1995 to 2010, and the aftermath of these events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.findyello.com/tip/jamaica/montserrat-nice-with-sir-howard-a-fergus/|title=Montserrat Nice with Sir Howard A. Fergus|website=www.findyello.com}}
= Selected published works =
== Poetry collections ==
- Yaya Surfeit: Mellonie Boy Dancing on My Head (Fabwan, Montserrat, 2010)
== Poems ==
- Magma Rising (1996), in Eruption: Montserrat versus Volcano, edited by Howard Fergus, University of the West Indies, School of Continuing Studies, Montserrat.
- Norene's Laugh (2017), Cordite Poetry Review.{{Cite web|url=http://cordite.org.au/poetry/caribbean/norenes-laugh/|title=Norene's Laugh|date=15 May 2017}}
Honours
Cumberbatch was awarded an Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2007, for services to education on Montserrat.{{Cite web |date=15 June 2007 |title=Queen's Birthday Honours 2007 |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/local-news/queens-birthday-honours-2007-3971094 |website=Business Live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:University of the West Indies alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of Brighton
Category:Montserratian dramatists and playwrights