The theatre scene in Ghana has gotten more vibrant - Akosua Abdallah

Veteran actress Akosua Abdallah has praised the resurgence of the theatre scene in Ghana, describing it as a vibrant renaissance.

In an interview with Elsie Lamar on Talkertainment on GhanaWeb TV, she highlighted the contributions of young artistes, playwrights, and directors who are revitalising the industry with both contemporary and classic productions.

Abdallah noted the efforts of notable figures such as Ebo White, Fiifi Coleman, and George Quaye, who are bringing ‘fresh energy’ to the stage.

She also mentioned the honouring of her father, Mohammed Ben Abdallah, with a revival of his production ‘The Slaves,’ alongside other classic plays like ‘Dilemma of a Ghost’ and ‘The Legend of Aku Sika’.

“I think the theatre scene has become a very vibrant one. There's almost like a renaissance in theatre. A lot of young artistes, a lot of young playwrights, a lot of young directors, from the Uncle Ebo Whites to the Fiifi Colemans to the George Quayes.

“They're coming up with not just new contemporary productions but they are going into retrospect to bring old productions… and so you realise that there's this new vibrancy and there's a renaissance,” she said.

She observed that young people, aged 25 to 30, who were previously not part of the theatre tradition, are now able to afford and attend performances.

This renewed interest is not limited to the National Theatre but extends to community theatres and school dramas, where literature textbooks are brought to life on stage, aiding students' comprehension.

Abdallah emphasised the educational value of theatre, stating that seeing these productions helps students better understand their coursework.

“So when they do see these productions on stage, it gives them a good understanding of how to answer the questions for their class. And so theatre has become quite vibrant,” she added.

She celebrated the current vibrancy of the theatre scene in Ghana, calling it a significant cultural revival.

Her comments join that of other stakeholders, including actor Adjetey Anang, who stated that theatre movies are gaining popularity due to the audience's desire for diverse and original content.

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See the full interview below;