Roderick Walcott

Roderick Aldon Walcott (23 January 19306 March 2000) was a St Lucian playwright, screenwriter, painter, theatre director, costume and set designer, lyricist and literary editor. As a dramatist he "has been recognised as one of the most committed figures in the effort to develop a distinctive Caribbean theatre in the region". He was the twin brother of Nobel laureate Derek Walcott.

Life and career Roderick Aldon Walcott was born in Castries, St Lucia, the son of Alix (Maarlin) and Warwick Walcott. He was educated at St Mary's College there. In 1950, he (together with his brother Derek and friends) was instrumental in founding the St Lucia Arts Guild, to read and perform plays. of which The Banjo Man, a collaboration with the composer Charles Cadet, was successfully staged at Carifesta 1972 in Guyana and throughout the greater Caribbean. Walcott is also acknowledged as a pioneer of Carnival in St Lucia. His death is a theme in his brother Derek's 2004 work The Prodigal.

In 2009, a collection of Roderick Walcott's works was donated to the University of the West Indies Open Campus in St Lucia.

Awards 1976 – Officer of the Order of the British Empire 2000 – Joseph Devaux Lifetime Achievement Award, Minvielle and Chastanet Fine Arts Award 2000 – St. Lucia's Medal of Honour (Gold) for outstanding contribution to Literary and Performing Arts.

Selected works The Harrowing of Benjy (1958), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. The Banjo Man (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. The Legend of Tom Fool (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. The Expatriates (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. The Image of Canga Brown (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. A Flight of Sparrows (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. The Education of Alfie (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. Malfinis (196?), Trinidad: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. The Trouble with Albino Joe (196?), Kingston: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. Shrove Tuesday March: a play of the Steelband (196?), Kingston: UWI Extra-Mural Dept. Chanson Marianne (1974) Romiel et Violette (1979) The Guitar Man's Song The Wonderful World of Brother Rabbit