When Word Alive 3 comes to life at Samaans Park in Choc this weekend, it will feature the hilarious and insightful Jamaican poet Joan Andrea Hutchinson. A writer, storyteller, actress, motivational speaker and teacher, Joan is also a producer and presenter for radio and TV.
Joan has been writing poems and stories in the Jamaican language for more than ten years. She has not only entertained and educated Jamaicans for years, but has also spread her nation’s culture around the world through her words.
Achieving local and international prominence with her hit debut album ‘Dat Bumpy Head Gal’. She solidified her success with a second album ‘Jamaica Kin Teet’ including a Reggae Boyz tribute song. Her third ‘Everyting Jamaican’ continues to keep her as one of Jamaica’s best selling recording artists! Her body of work includes the book of poems ‘Meck Mi Tell Yuh’, and the CDs ‘Wild About Jamaica’ and ‘Jamaica Ridim and Ryme’. Joan’s recording a tribute to ‘Miss Lou’ has been endorsed by government and public alike. Her ‘Garfield Ellis’ short stories have appeared in prominent journals in the Caribbean and abroad.
While she says her favourite tool is the Jamaican language, her favourite subject the Jamaican people and her favourite word Laugh, this far from sums up this luminous and well-respected character.
Joan has also delved into tv/radio production; training in radio and television production and news. She produced the CDs ‘Wild About Jamaica’, ‘Jamaica Ridim & Ryme’, which feature original stories and poems and ‘Anancy and Auntie Joan’, a collection of Anancy stories. She also produced ‘Lawd Di Ri dim Sweet’, Miss Lou’s latest CD.
As a motivational speaker, she is very big on self-esteem building and personal responsibility. She volunteered as an adult literacy teacher in Trench Town and has taught English to speakers of Dutch, Spanish and French.
It is as a stand up comedienne and storyteller that Joan Andrea Hutchinson will take the stage this Saturday night. Best known for her dramatic monologues and humour, Joan has honed her skill with performances in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and extensively in Jamaica.
Word Alive producer Drinia Frederick expects a rousing and eye opening performance from Hutchinson Saturday night. “She writes comedy with a twist,” enthuses Frederick, “You will laugh but you will get the message”.
Hutchinson’ performance will cap off a night of dramatic spoken word performances. Amateur poets and performers will compete for the Word Alive championship, which comes with a monetary prize in addition to bragging rights. Guest appearances by other top-notch performers will round off the intimate and entertaining evening of poetry and music.