Cecily Spencer-Cross

Cecily Spencer-Cross started drama at Mount Tabor Moravian Church in the early 1960s. Her earliest memory is reciting 15 Bible verses at the Berean Vacation Bible School. She has appeared in numerous church plays at Hawthorn Methodist Church and currently assists with dramatic activity at Bethlehem Moravian Church.

Her interest in drama was moulded as a student at Christ Church Girls' Foundation under the tutelage of Grace Pilgrim, who appeared in plays such as No Justice in October. This production was part of the Barbados Secondary Schools Drama Festival in the 1970s. Loretta Hackett influenced Cecily and directed her in every major production at the school, including Letter from Leonora. In the 1970s, after attending a workshop with Lloyd Reckord of Jamaica, Cecily was cast in the play Godwell. This experience led her to participate in the popular Barbados Festival Choir's Bimshire Babes in the Woods. Cecily then joined the Barbados National Theatre workshop under the directorship of Daphne Joseph-Hackett, and with weekly sessions, Cecily, at the age of 15, toured Guyana, St. Lucia and Antigua in the play Jewels of the Shrine. Michael Gilkes started Stage One Theatre Productions, and the first production was Sweet Talk by Michael Abbensettes; this was followed by the dramatization of Kamau Brathwaite's Mother Poem, which represented Barbados at CARIFESTA 111 in Cuba. Cecily was part of this cast.

Cecily started teaching at 17, and her first assignment was Springer Memorial Secondary School. This was her first attempt at directing. Cecily directed a dramatization of the school's History - Springer in Retrospect and a musical, The Caribbean Uh Come From. She took the students to NIFCA and got involved in Yoruba House as a dancer. Cecily attended every possible workshop locally and regionally. By 1977, Cecily was furthering her studies at Erdiston Teachers' Training College, and at this institution, Cecily continued her theatre quest. On leaving Erdiston, Cecily attended the Jamaica School of Drama (1979-1981), beginning her formal training in Theatre and Education. Majoring in Directing, Cecily acted in Raisin in the Sun, Julius Ceasar and directed Can't Pay? Won't Pay! Cecily became a well-rounded theatre artist, gaining experience in every sphere of theatre. After two years, she graduated with a Distinction in her Diploma in Drama in Education and a Credit in Theatre Arts. Her academic achievements continued at Stirling University (1988-1990), where she graduated with a Bachelor's in Educational Studies. While at Stirling, Cecily got the opportunity to work with a professional theatre company – The Tron Theatre- and appeared in The Sash. In 2004 Cecily graduated from New York University's Steinhardt School of Education with a Masters in Educational Theatre.

On Spencer-Cross' return from Jamaica, her first assignment was at the Grantley Adams Memorial School. She taught drama and was also a part-time tutor at the Barbados Community College. Again, she directed all the major theatrical productions at these institutions Raisin in the Sun, Odale's Choice, Ritual, and House of Bernarda Alba. From 1994 Cecily was a full-time tutor at the Barbados Community College. Though a full-time tutor, Cecily was involved with numerous non-governmental organizations. She found the perfect blend of education and entertainment. Thirty-three years ago, she founded Youth-on-Stage, an annual summer arts programme for young people 7 - 17 years old. She has conducted numerous workshops, seminars and training programmes across Barbados, the Caribbean Region, England and Scotland. From 2000-2007, Cecily was seconded to the Ministry of Education, where she and her colleague Jennifer Sealy developed the PEACE Programme (Personal Empowerment through the Arts for Creative Education). The Ministry of Labour engaged her services in promoting Their GIVE programme.

As a Director, some of her career highlights are the 21st Anniversary of Barbados' Independence Youth Pageant and the 50th Anniversary of Independence's NIFCA Gala. For the 50th anniversary of NIFCA, Cecily produced the Gala performance of Barbajan. This was the production at CARIFESTA 7 in Trinidad under Cecily's Directorship. She can be credited with the highly successful production of Laff it Off, a satirical revue - produced by Laff-itOff Productions Inc., now in its fortieth year. She has been the artistic director of Laff-it-Off Productions since 1997. She is also a director of FOLA productions and has performed in their inaugural play God is my Man .. But… In 2024, she was the director of The Gods Within Me.

Cecily, along with her husband Thom Cross, established Cross-Caribbean Productions, and together they have produced many successful productions, including the award-winning play "The Final Truth", which was made into a film under the auspices of the United States of America Embassy in Barbados and toured seven Caribbean countries where Cecily conducted workshops. These workshops encouraged participants to use drama to highlight social issues. She appeared in Vagina Monologues in association with the National Organisation of Women. Cecily directed five theatrical productions for the Ministry of Tourism in its HIV/AIDS awareness programme, including a five-part TV series – Secrets.

As an Administrator, Cecily founded the Barbados Association of Drama Educators in 2011. This association catered to the needs of Theatre Arts Teachers, conducting training sessions and producing three playmaking festivals for secondary schools and a Festival of Secondary Schools Dramas. Under Cecily's leadership, the association hosted the 8th Caribbean Secondary Schools' Drama Festival and attended the Festival in Trinidad and Tobago in 2018. In 2019, Cecily was part of the panel that created a Drama syllabus for Lower School in Barbados.

Cecily ended her formal teaching career at Barbados Community College in 2020; however, she continues to serve the Caribbean Examinations Council as an external examiner, The National Cultural Foundation as a theatre coach, and The National Cultural Foundation as a director. She does not hesitate to provide assistance and guidance to any school, church, or social organization in need of her knowledge or skills in any aspect of theatre.