Spitfire: The Lohkay Story postponed due to health emergency

MARIGOT/GREAT BAY, St. Martin (May 21, 2023)—The much-anticipated performance of Spitfire: The Lohkay Story has been postponed for reasons related to the health of the playwright and executive producer Shujah Reiph, said Conscious Lyrics Foundation (CLF).

A new date for the one-night-only play will be announced as soon as possible, said Reiph, who is also president of CLF.

“I’m touched beyond words for the many well-wishers since my health emergency early last week; and for the words of condolences at the passing of my father Arsene Reiph last Friday,” said Shujah Reiph.

Persons who have already purchased tickets for the play are urged to hold on to them as they will be honored for the new date, said CLF.

Spitfire: The Lohkay Story, written by Shujah Reiph and directed by Fabian Adekunle Badejo with a cast of about 35 performers, was scheduled to premiere at Loterie Farm on May 31 as a pre-St. Martin Book Fair event.

The historical legend of Lohkay, found in the book National Symbols of St. Martin, is at the center of the CLF theatrical production.

Lohkay’s resistance against Slavery on a St. Martin plantation, purportedly in the St. Peters/Reward area, caused the slave master to cut off one of her breasts as punishment for running away from the hated slave system, according to the legend.

“The cast and technical crew of The Lohkay Story have been hard at work preparing to deliver to the people of our island what we are confident will be an epic theatrical experience,” said Badejo. “We acknowledge that health comes first and promise that the production would certainly be worth the wait,” said Badejo.

CLF issued a statement over the weekend expressing its “profound gratitude to the people of St. Martin for their understanding and continued support … and kindly requests for the public to follow traditional and social media for updates about the production.”