Haitian theater company marks 33 years with joyful and inspiring performance

By Aljany Narcius
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The theater company Comédie Sans Frontières d’Haïti (COSAFH) celebrated its 33rd anniversary with a night of artistic brilliance at Hotel El Rancho in Pétion-Ville. Marking the occasion, COSAFH—renowned for its dedication to Haitian storytelling—brought Souvenirs & Dialogues, a poetic work by writer Béleck Georges, to life before a captivated audience. 

Hundreds of spectators, including students, writers, poets, actors, filmmakers, and cultural figures, gathered to witness the moving performance. First staged in 2000, the play explores love, nostalgia, and human relationships through a seamless blend of poetry, music, and theater.

“Theater transcends borders and profoundly touches the human soul,” said Béleck Georges, founder and artistic director of COSAFH. A journalist, author, and playwright, Georges is also the communications director of the public arts school, École Nationale des Arts, better known as ENARTS.

A night of artistry and emotion

From the moment the curtain rose on Feb. 15, the audience was transported. A young violinist played a haunting melody as a singer’s voice filled the room, evoking nostalgia and intimacy.

The young violinist introduced the audience to a world of sweet melancholy while a woman with regal grace sang an old song. The haunting melody and the tender, wistful notes evoked memories of childhood lullabies, ancestral stories, and a time when life felt more unadorned and intimate.

“The moment was suspended,” said spectator Kerby Lemoine. “The young violinist’s entrance created an incomparable magic, an almost sacred silence as if we were all immersed in memories of the past.”

Throughout the play, three couples explore love, passion, betrayal and longing. However, it wasn’t just the narrative that captivated the audience; the performance was an intricate dance of poetry, movement and music, magnifying raw human emotion.

A deep immersion in love and suffering

One of the play’s most striking moments comes in the second act when two actors — a couple playing a virtuous woman and a cynical man — engage in an intense exchange. On one side, the virtuous woman embodies hope, loyalty to values and faith in true love, while the cynical man, disillusioned by time and betrayal, defends a bitter and pragmatic view of human relationships. 

Sharp exchanges and mounting tension draw the audience into the struggle between idealism and disenchantment. This confrontation, amplified by a simple yet powerful staging, underscores the stark contrast between innocence and wisdom, between dreams and reality.

This dramatic intensity is heightened by subtle staging, with every detail enriching the emotional duel between the two characters. “The lighting effects were incredibly powerful, reflecting the characters’ inner conflicts,” said actress and audience member Marie Claire Charles after the event. 

Through the interplay of light and shadow, the scene reflects the universal dilemmas of the human heart. “It felt as though each character echoed our own suffering or expectations in love,” Charles added, praising the exceptional staging, which draws the audience into the tension between hope and disillusionment.

The audience felt connected to the acts.

The scene between a poet and a prostitute was particularly well received by the audience. David Pierre, one of the spectators,  shared how deeply it resonated with him. “There was a perfect chemistry between the subdued lighting, the background music and the actors’ gestures. It was like a dance of the soul that made us question our own relationships,” he reflected.

A tribute to Haitian culture

Beyond its emotional depth, the play served as a tribute to  Haitian culture. Folk singers and dancers performed between scenes, immersing the audience in Haiti’s rich artistic heritage. These cultural elements deepened the spectators’ connection to the story and the broader world of Haitian theater.

Artistic Director Georges reflected on the significance of the production: “Souvenirs & Dialogues on stage is not just a play—it’s a journey through our history, our culture, our wounds, and our hopes,” he said. “It reflects our collective journey and our love for art. It is a celebration of life and everything it encompasses.”

Each scene of Souvenirs & Dialogues pays homage to  Haitian culture through symbolic elements and references to the country’s traditions. The dialogue, infused with poetry, reflects the depth of Haitian literature, while the costumes and set designs evoke iconic historical periods and locations. Some scenes incorporate traditional ceremonies and rhythmic performances,  t transporting the audience to the heart of Haiti’s spirit. 

By weaving together music, dance and theater, the play becomes a vibrant portrayal of Haitian identity, celebrating both its heritage and determination.

A standing ovation for a night to remember

The audience responded with enthusiasm, applauding the actors’  performances. As the event concluded, many described the evening as enchanting and unforgettable, praising the heartfelt performances and powerful dialogue.

The actors delivered performances of rare intensity, their words and gestures imbued with deep emotion. One line, spoken by the poet, resonated profoundly:

“I have long wept for the love you never gave me. Yet I loved those tears. And I still love them. For they are the fruit of a deep and sincere love.”

“The dialogues were a true catharsis,” said Marie-Louise Joseph, a visibly moved spectator. “Each line echoed the questions we all ask ourselves about love and the sacrifices it demands.”

As the final scene faded, the audience erupted in applause, giving the performers a well-deserved standing ovation.

With this remarkable anniversary performance, COSAFH reaffirmed its place in Haitian theater, once again demonstrating that art—whether through poetry, music, or drama—has the power to honor the past and illuminate the future.

For more than three decades, the cultural organization has been committed to artistic excellence and the preservation of Haitian heritage. Georges stated that COSAFH has demonstrated its mission by showcasing Haitian theater and bringing people’s stories, struggles and dreams to life on stage. 

“Tonight, we not only celebrate 33 years of theatrical commitment but also the strength of love and art that unites us,” Georges said, his voice filled with gratitude. “Each performance like this reminds us that art has the extraordinary power to transcend, connect and touch us at the deepest level of our being.”

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