Live Historic Reenactments
The National Drama Company of Guyana brings the country's history to life at the Indian Arrival Monument — two open-air performances on Saturday May 30, as part of the 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee.
A Grand Homecoming for Guyana's Diamond Jubilee.
The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, invites the public to live historic reenactments by the National Drama Company of Guyana — celebrating defining moments of the nation's history through captivating live performance.
Two open-air shows take place at the Indian Arrival Monument on May 30: 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. (A sister performance was held at the 1823 Monument on May 16.)
Confirmed via the official MOCYS announcement dated May 15, 2026. Read the announcement →
The two show times
Both shows are open-air at the Indian Arrival Monument. Bring a hat, water, and arrive 10–15 minutes early.
About the Indian Arrival Monument
The venue itself is a quiet but powerful place to stand for history. Here's why MOCYS picked it.
What the monument is
The Indian Arrival Monument at Merriman's Mall, Camp Street, Bourda in central Georgetown is a bronze sculpture of the ship Whitby set on a black granite pedestal. It was unveiled on May 5, 1997 by businessman Yesu Persaud, designed in India with assistance from Guyanese architect Albert Rodrigues, and transported to Guyana in 1996. (Source: National Trust of Guyana.)
The Whitby was one of the two ships — the other was the Hesperus — that arrived in then–British Guiana on May 5, 1838 carrying 396 Indian indentured labourers from Calcutta, first assigned to Plantation Highbury. Over the indentureship period (1838–1917), approximately 239,000 Indians were brought to British Guiana. (Sources: Kaieteur News · Stabroek News.)
A second Indian Arrival Monument stands at Palmyra, Berbice — unveiled May 5, 2019 — but the May 30 Diamond Jubilee reenactments are at the older Georgetown monument, whose bronze ship is a literal sculpture of the Whitby itself. That makes the monument especially well-suited for any reenactment of the 1838 arrival scene.
About the National Drama Company
The National Drama Company is the professional production arm of Guyana's National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. Al Creighton Jr. serves as Executive Director and Mark Luke-Edwards as Director. Recent productions include "Musings of a Poet IV" (March 2026), "Sauda," "Anansi," and "Ti Jean and His Brothers." The Company is normally based at the National Cultural Centre. (Sources: Guyana Chronicle · Kaieteur News.)
For the May 16 sister leg at the 1823 Monument, the Company performed a reenactment of the 1823 Demerara Revolt — written and directed by Al Creighton Jr., with Mark Luke-Edwards playing rebel leader Jack Gladstone and Frederick Minty as Reverend John Smith. (Source: NCN Guyana.)
Common questions
Where MOCYS hasn't published details, we say so.
Is admission free?
Likely free — government-hosted Diamond Jubilee programme events have generally been open to the public — but treat free admission as not officially confirmed until MOCYS publishes terms.
How long does each show run?
Show duration hasn't been published. The 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM start times suggest each show is roughly 60–90 minutes with a long midday break — but treat this as an estimate, not a confirmed runtime.
What exactly is being reenacted on May 30?
The flyer titles the May 30 leg simply "Indian Arrival Monument" performance — without naming a specific 1838 arrival scene. Given the monument literally depicts the ship Whitby that arrived May 5, 1838 with the first indentured labourers, the likely subject is an arrival scene from that period — but MOCYS has not officially confirmed which historical moment.
Who's in the cast?
The cast for May 30 isn't public yet. For context, the sister 1823 Monument reenactment on May 16 featured Mark Luke-Edwards as Jack Gladstone and Frederick Minty as Reverend John Smith — both members of the National Drama Company.
Why this venue, and not Palmyra?
There are two Indian Arrival Monuments in Guyana — the 1997 Georgetown one (the May 30 venue) and the 2019 Palmyra, Berbice one (usual site of national Indian Arrival Day on May 5). The Diamond Jubilee programme picked the Georgetown monument: it's a direct sculptural replica of the Whitby ship, which gives the May 30 performance an unmistakable historical anchor.
How do I get to the Indian Arrival Monument?
It sits at Merriman's Mall, main entrance on Camp Street in Bourda, central Georgetown. Walking distance from Bourda Market, Stabroek, and most central Georgetown hotels. Taxis and rideshares know it as "Indian Arrival Monument" or "Merriman's Mall."
Was there a sister performance somewhere else?
Yes — the 1823 Monument leg on Saturday May 16, 2026 (already passed). It featured a live reenactment of the 1823 Demerara Revolt. The May 30 Indian Arrival Monument performance is the second of the two-part series.
Other Diamond Jubilee events
Part of the same May 2026 Independence programme.
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