Biography of ralph holness

The local theatre community is mourning the passing of Ralph Holness, one of the pioneers of what is often referred to as “roots theatre”.

Holness who was ill for sometime, died in the western parish of Westmoreland on Saturday. He made his mark in theatre in Jamaica and the Diaspora in the s and s with well-known plays such as “Unda Mi Nose”, “Dead Lef” and “Obeah Wedding”  - entertaining the thousands who went to venues across the island.

Ralph Holness played a major role in the establishment of Jamaican theatre and in taking his “roots plays” to the masses, often dismissed his those who were often critical to his approach.

“He was one of the persons responsible fore popularizing the roots theatre genre, Ralph more than anyone else in my view was responsible for taking theatre in a broad way to the masses across the country and kind of changed people’s approach in how they see theatre as a form of entertainment,” said Lenford Salmon, Administration Director of Jam Biz International Limited.

Ralph Holness was in sixties.

RALPH Holness, a giant in roots theatre, died on Saturday after a long illness.

Holness, who hails from Westmoreland, was responsible for producing rib-tickling plays during the s and s. They include Unda Mi Nose, Dead Lef and Obeah Wedding.

Yesterday, actress Audrey Reid remembered Holness, whom she worked with in the early s.

&#;I first became associated with Ralph when he worked for Ed Bim Productions on the play Village Rooster. However, we really started working together when he revived Obeah Wedding,&#; she told the Jamaica Observer.

Reid recalls being cast as an understudy in Obeah Wedding but eventually took over the main role.

She also appeared in other Holness productions, including Conman

and Scandal.

&#;Ralph had such a passion for his work. If you didn&#;t know him, you would think he was aggressive. But it was really a desire to make a production come together in the right way,&#; said Reid.

&#;When him talk is like thunder roll, but deep down he was a good person and theatre was his passion,&#; she continued.

Actor Volier Johnson said Holness&#; legacy is his ability to market his plays.

&#;Ralph Holness is one of those producers who teach theatre people how to advertise their plays effectively. He was able to draw the mass

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