Answering the call to preserve one of Jamaica’s most treasured cultural institutions, the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) has come on board as a key early supporter of the Little Theatre’s renovation project, undertaking the full restoration of the theatre’s stage flooring—an investment valued at just under JMD $500,000.
Marisa Benain, Executive Director of the Little Theatre, underscored the importance of the renovation, noting, “The Little Theatre is the largest in-use theatre in the country, and this is why it’s so important for the space to be maintained at an acceptable standard for performers as well as our audience.”
She also expressed gratitude for SVF’s investment in restoring the stage flooring. “There is a longstanding history of the Supreme Ventures Foundation’s support of the creative industry. So I’m not surprised, but I’m still impressed that they came on board to support this project.”
Work on the stage flooring is expected to restore full functionality to one of the most heavily used performance spaces in Jamaica, enhancing both rehearsal and performance experiences for groups including the National Pantomime, the National Dance Theatre Company, secondary school drama festivals, and the many others that call the Little Theatre home each year.
The Little Theatre project is the latest in a long line of the Supreme Ventures Foundation’s investments in the arts, which the Foundation regards as central to preserving Jamaican identity and nurturing local talent across music, dance, drama and the visual arts. As Supreme Ventures marks 25 years of giving back this year, the initiative underscores the Foundation’s belief that supporting culture is as vital to national development as its work in education, sport, health and community empowerment.
Heather Goldson, Director of the Supreme Ventures Foundation, added, “While the Supreme Ventures Foundation’s primary focus is community sustainability and supporting children in state care, we also invest heavily in healthcare, sports, the arts and culture. When we were asked to assist with this renovation project at the Little Theatre, it felt only natural to provide our support, as it aligns with our core mission.”
Established by the Little Theatre Movement (LTM) and officially opened on Tom Redcam Avenue in Kingston in 1961, the Little Theatre has stood for more than six decades as one of the island’s most important cultural institutions. It is home to Jamaica’s National Pantomime—a Christmas-season tradition dating back to 1941 that has shaped generations of the island’s actors, dancers, musicians and designers.
As the theatre does not receive government funding, it has long relied on ticket sales, rentals and the generosity of corporate partners to maintain its facilities and continue serving the wider arts community.
The Supreme Ventures Foundation’s support extends beyond this initial phase, with a firm commitment to see the project through to completion, reinforcing its role as a proudly Jamaican organisation dedicated to national development and cultural preservation. The Foundation says it will continue to work alongside the Little Theatre Movement and fellow corporate partners as the wider renovation project advances, with further updates to be shared as work progresses.