About Derron Sandy
General
Derron Sandy is a Trinbagonian spoken-word poet, playwright, director, and creative educator. H e earned a Master of Arts in Literatures in English from The University of the West Indies (St. Augustine) and is currently pursuing PhD studies via the MPhil pathway.
Publications
In 2020, Sandy authored A Story of Hope, a children’s book published by the Pan American Development Foundation. He published his debut poetry collection, The Chaos, in 2023 and edited two student chapbooks: On the Day I Was Born(2023) and The Travelling Journal (2024).
Productions
In 2018, Sandy co-founded the annual spoken-word showcase Borderlines, now regarded as one of the region’s most dynamic performance poetry events. He is also the founder of the performance arts NGO The Quays Foundation and has written and directed over fifteen theatre productions since 2014.
Training and Development
Sandy has designed multiple curricula and syllabi for the teaching of spoken-word poetry. As Artistic Director of The 2 Cents Movement, he managed the training and development of some of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prominent performers and designed and supervised school programmes at all educational levels. He is also the author of Worthy Words, a spoken-word poetry workbook, and has conducted workshops across several territories. Sandy also developed Cool Creatives, an online creative writing learning center for children.
Awards
Sandy won the National Poetry Slam of Trinidad and Tobago in 2021 and has achieved several top-three finishes. He has received awards from multiple organisations for his artistic work and community contributions. In 2022, he was awarded Best Actor at the Conch Shell Film Festival for his role in the short film Sins of the Father.
Personal
Sandy is a proud husband and father and a firm believer in God, his creator and sustainer.
D Sandy
Collaborations
Sandy is involved in several programmes that ensure children and youth must thrive in the long term.
Sandy designed the Little Fire(2018) programme for the Quays foundation which is a sustained after school performance arts program that targets students with disciplinary problems. The program has given several misunderstood youth a new chance of growth.
Sandy has also led several theatre demonstrations on the street to address crime, violence against women and create love and peace.
D. Sandy's Projects
D. Sandy Philosophy
God gave us this Earth to enjoy. Freedom, peace and happiness are my ultimate markers of success. I have found great joy in what I do. I get to have fun while serving others and for the most part, talking some semblance of sense.
To perform is to use God's gift
To perform is to serve
To perform is to create more performers
To perform is to minister to self
This is God's gift. It has provided for me, helped me build communities, travelled the world with me and given me freedom.
It is still the business of service. I am a service provider and the client is the most vital person in the room. This is a standout trait of the performance poer.
I believe that whatever I know is to be taught. I take great pride in serving others, teaching and sharing my happiness.
I believe that the words I say are firstly instructions to self, then to others. I am not steadfast to everyything I say, but I desire to be there.
