Under The Guinep Tree

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Playwright Carlos Outten wants to change the world one scene at a time, and his latest play – The Guinep Tree – tackles issues that plague Bahamian society.

Join our Jean Joseph for more on Carlos’ journey and his plans for creatives in The Bahamas.

Award-winning playwright Carlos Outten says he always knew he wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps and write.

He immersed himself in the arts while at Morehouse College, which lays claim to the likes of Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, among others.

“My aunt was an english teacher so when I went to Morehouse College, I always knew I wanted to do something entertaining so I took up Theater. I took a playwriting course my junior year,” the playwright recounts.

He continues, “I was a part of this youth group in The Bahamas, but I decided one time that, ‘Okay, I’m taking playwriting, why don’t I just try a play?’ And, that experience was just a great experience for me. And, from then I’ve just been writing plays.”

Outten says his motivation lies in knowing that he can change the world with his words, and though he originally looked past his roots, he has embraced his culture in his writing.

“Initially when I started writing plays I didn’t really see myself as a Bahamian playwright. In fact, I tried to run away from that because of the lack of notice that behaving playwrights get a lot of times.”

The Guinep Tree is set in 1980s Kemp Road and follows a mother’s attempts to get an absent father back home with the hope that their son Manny can clean up his act and become a better person.

Outten says he is pleased with the reception of The Guinep Tree’s premiere despite less than three weeks of preparation, and he says his sights are set on the play’s next showing with some help from the community on August 12th and 13th.

“It was sold out. Everyone spoke so highly of it. We’re now looking for sponsors and we have a few people coming up but we’re looking for more.”

Carlos is keeping busy writing a book and a musical and producing, but he also wants to help build the business so that more creatives can enjoy the fruits of their labour.

“I want the art industry to become an industry within our country. I want people to say, ‘I’m an artist and I’m getting paid to become an artist and I’m not just doing this because it’s a hobby.'”

If you are interested in working with Carlos or sponsoring the play, you can contact him at carlos.outten@hotmail.com.