The Ward Theatre is the only theatre of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, and has been located at North Parade since 1912. It has been destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times, and has functioned as the National Stage for the Festival Movement, marking social history. Local theatre production began in earnest in the 1900s and, despite the fact that formal theatre rarely presented tales relevant to island life, Jamaica soon adopted its own largely accepted form of theatre around its peoples' cultural heritage and customs. The National Pantomime opened there every Boxing Day since 1941. The Ward Theatre has had a long history encompassing the nation's social, cultural, and political lives. Its productions are markers of social history, and it is also the location where both major political parties were launched. Over time, the theatre has run into disrepair and has been closed for some years. In January 2017, the Mayor of Kingston and the Kingston & St Andrew Municipal Corporation embarked on a project to restore the theatre to the center of Jamaica's performing arts.