Raymond Choo Kong

Choo Kong grew up in Arima,^[4] and was described after his death as "the epitome of what I would consider being a 'gens d'Arime'" by Arima mayor Lisa Morris-Julian.^[5]

Choo Kong's career in the theatre spanned 39 years. His early work as an actor was influenced by the Little Carib Theatre^[1] where he was mentored by Helen Camps,^[6] and the Trinidad Theatre Workshop.^[1] He referred Camps as "the woman that taught me theatre".^[6] When Camps left the Little Carib Theatre and founded the Trinidad Tent Theatre, Choo Kong joined her.^[7]

Choo Kong's first lead role came as Vetsin in Ad, an original work by Roger Israel produced by the Trinidad Tent Theatre. He went on to reprise the role in a reworked version of the musical entitled Rampanalgas Sunrise.^[7]

He founded Raymond Choo Kong Productions, which became a prominent theatre company in the 1990s. Choo Kong served as producer, director, playwright and actor and the company staged comedies and thrillers, primarily in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.^[1]

Choo Kong was best known for producing and acting in commercially successful farces,^[8] and has been described as "the innovator of the Trinidadian farce".^[9] His work was described by Queen's Hall chairman Helmer Hilwig as "deeply rooted in [Trinidad and Tobago]" and that he "reflected us back to ourselves not only through the scripts he authored but also in how he adapted and localised foreign work".^[8]

Choo Kong's other roles included that of Song Liling in a 1989 production of M. Butterfly staged by The Bagasse Company, Max in Bent, staged by the Trinidad Tent Theatre, and a Port of Spain nutsman in The Hummingbird Tree.^[8]

Choo Kong received 18 Cacique Awards for his work, more than any other individual.^[3]