Vincentian crime drama 'Number Seven' premieres in Brooklyn
The play, part of the 47th Independence Anniversary celebrations, drew praise from local officials and the SVG Diaspora Committee for its performance.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
The crime drama “Number Seven” premiered at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn on Saturday, October 24. The event was part of the celebrations for the 47th Independence Anniversary of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in New York. Patrons described the show as a success, with high attendance and positive reception from the audience.
Writer and director Kevin Roderiques of ASK Enterprise Ltd. created the suspenseful play. The production previously opened at Russell’s Auditorium in Kingstown on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Before that, the play had performed in Grenada and St. Lucia. Roderiques, who has led the Agape Performing Arts Theatre for three decades, called the New York debut the fulfillment of a long-held dream.
Sherrill-Ann Mason Haywood, chair of the SVG Diaspora Committee of New York and the New York production manager, said the committee assisted with logistics to support the nation's culture. She noted that the turnout confirmed an appetite for Vincentian entertainment among the Caribbean diaspora. Mason Haywood highlighted the live music provided by the Magma Band, co-owned by Adrian Bailey and his wife, Chanique Bailey, the 2026 Vincy Mas Calypso Monarch.
Roland “Patel” Matthews, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General to the United States, attended the performance with his two sons. He described the plot as captivating and the acting as excellent. Matthews stated that the production demonstrated the untapped potential of Vincentian youth and called for more support to help the creative industry flourish beyond the country's shores.
The plot centers on Detective Adams, who has seven days to identify the killer of corrupt lawyer Douglas Hamilton. The murder occurs on July 7, 2007, in the heat of a July summer. Six suspects, including a wife, a mistress, a politician, a crime lord, and a receptionist, each issued threats or ultimatums in the days before the death. The play follows the detective as he interrogates these individuals to unravel the web of deceit.
The 12-member all-Vincentian cast includes Stanley Johnson as Douglas Hamilton and Roger Williams as Detective Adam Wilson. Roderiques stated that the cast serves as cultural ambassadors for the nation. The production is noted as the first Vincentian play to focus on crime within the upper echelons of society.
Mason Haywood expressed hope for future tours to other diaspora locations. Matthews said the show deserved a bigger stage and more exposure. Roderiques described the play as a gift to those who supported Vincentian theatre over the past 30 years.
