Rashida Brereton: Carrying the Pulse of the Caribbean to the World

Rashida Brereton - Theatre Arts Coordinator for CARIFESTA XV

When Rashida Brereton says, “Barbados has a culture!”, it is not a slogan—it is a rallying cry. For over fifteen years, this dynamic cultural practitioner and devoted educator has lived those words, shaping the regional and international arts landscape as producer, director, and performer. Her artistry is a fusion of creativity and scholarship, informed by a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Arts. But more than degrees or accolades, it is Rashida’s ability to bridge past and present that makes her a true cultural torchbearer. She carries with her the pulse of the ancestors, beating through drums, stories, and performance, and passes it on with fire to the next generation.

This year, Rashida finds herself at the centre of one of the Caribbean’s most significant cultural moments. As Theatre Coordinator for CARIFESTA XV, she is at the helm of a programme that promises not just performances, but experiences—immersions in Caribbean soul. “I have the honour of serving as the Theatre Coordinator for CARIFESTA XV, a role that places me right at the heartbeat of our region’s most vibrant cultural celebration,” she says. “When I received the news, I felt a rush of pride, joy, and a deep sense of responsibility. This is not just a position; it’s a calling to bring our stories, artistry, and heritage to life on a stage that unites the Caribbean and beyond.”

Her vision is sweeping and sensory. Rashida doesn’t want audiences to simply watch theatre—she wants them to feel it. “My focus is to craft an experience that wraps you in the soul of the Caribbean, where every note, every movement, every word is steeped in the traditions, norms, and customs passed down through generations. I want audiences to feel the pulse of our ancestors in the drums, taste the salt of our stories in the air, and leave carrying a piece of the Caribbean in their hearts—a piece they will share, protect, and pass on,” she says.

For Rashida, this isn’t about a single festival; it’s about planting seeds. Her hope is that her contribution will be remembered as a spark—a blaze for cultural preservation and innovation.

“I want my contribution to be remembered as a spark, something that lit a fire for cultural preservation and innovation. A celebration where artists felt seen, audiences felt transformed, and the Caribbean’s creative voice rang out loud and clear across the region.”

But she also looks beyond her own role, imagining CARIFESTA XV as a turning point for Barbados and the wider Caribbean.  “For Barbados, this festival will mean more than applause—it will leave us with upgraded facilities, an expanded pool of highly trained practitioners in technical, creative, and even non-creative fields, and a stronger foundation to carry our cultural leadership forward. For the Caribbean, it will be a powerful reminder that who we are matters—our stories, our art, and our voices are worthy of the biggest stages in the world. When we work together, our collective power is not just doubled—it’s multiplied tenfold,” Brereton declares.

Rashida speaks with the weight of experience. This is not her first CARIFESTA; it will be her fourth. And the festival has etched itself into her memory in unforgettable ways. She recalls CARIFESTA X in Guyana, where she played the lead role in Odale’s Choice. With little time and much passion, her cast welcomed Guyanese chorus members into the production, teaching them songs, movements, and the heartbeat of the play.  “Together, we brought it to life with style and spirit,” Rashida recalls. “It was magic, the kind of magic that only happens when passion meets purpose.”

Another moment shines from CARIFESTA XI in Suriname. Wandering through the Grand Market, she felt swept up in the current of Caribbean creativity. 

“Every corner pulsed with performance—music spilling into dance, acting melting into song, and joy vibrating in the air. It was there I truly felt the power of belonging to a Caribbean community of artists—a family that speaks the same creative language, no matter the island, no matter the shore,” Rashida reminisces. These memories fuel her work today. They remind her that festivals like CARIFESTA are more than showcases—they are living, breathing affirmations of identity and unity. And as Theatre Coordinator, Rashida Brereton is determined to make sure CARIFESTA XV burns brightly enough to inspire the next generation of cultural leaders.

In her hands, theatre is not just performance—it is heritage, it is identity, it is resistance, and it is promise. Rashida’s story is the Caribbean’s story: resilient, vibrant, rooted, and reaching always for new horizons.