The Chief Executive Officer of Globe Productions, Mr Latif Abubakar has urged stakeholders in Ghana’s theater industry to commit more resources to the industry.
The playwright is of the view that beyond using drama as a means of social education and change, it would also serve as a means of revenue generation and foreign exchange if given the right push.
He said, stakeholders including the government and private sector must endeavor to commit technical and financial resources to spur the industry on to international heights.
In an interview to commemorate this year’s World Theater Day, Mr Abubakar said, the government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, must create an avenue and provide resources that would help industry players take Ghana’s theater international.
He, however, added that theater practitioners must equally put in their best to compliment the effort of government and the private sector to place the industry on the world stage.
“It will take quality productions with the needed financial resources, and the right policies to make an impact on the word stage,” he said.
“It is for this reason that we need all stakeholders on board,” Latif added.
Technical/Financial support
As Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World Theater Day, on the theme, “Theatre and a Culture of Peace,” Mr Abubakar is of the view that theater industry is abound with extraordinary talents who lack the necessary technical and financial support.
“I dare say we have more than what it takes to put the industry on the world stage. What we are left with is the support to do so,” the playwright said.
The playwright who has partnered with some international organizations, including the Spanish Embassy, Star-Ghana, UK Aid, DANIDA and the European Union, says the time is right again to take the theater industry beyond the shores of Ghana.
He is of the view that the Ghanaian theater has yet again become very attractive in recent times, hence the need to “show the world what we have to offer.”
Mr Abubakar who revealed his intention of taking Ghana’s theater industry international said, he believes storytelling and theatre could be used to achieve the needed foreign exchange if it makes it to the world stage.
“We, at Globe Productions have what it takes to put the industry on the world stage, and we are determined to make this happen,” he stressed.
After recently partnering the Spanish Embassy to stage an adaptation of Miguel’s Delibes’ Five Hours with Mario, the Globe CEO is currently working on a piece titled “The Second Coming of Nkrumah.”
The play is expected to go on a world tour in some selected countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Spain, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Egypt and Morocco.
Having gained some international recognition via an interview on BBC World Service on the topic: “Resurgence of Theatre in Africa,” the celebrated playwright is credited with staging the world’s first live virtual plays on COVID-19 with a record of 3.5million views across various social media platforms.
Globe Productions
As a theatre company focused on theatre for development, Globe Productions has to its credit 16 plays that have been performed 76 times across the country to an audience base of about 40,000. The strategic vision of implementing the tri- annual plays has currently made Globe the fastest growing theatre company in Ghana with the widest coverage.
Plays
Some written and produced works by Mr Abubakar include “I can’t think far”; a non-violence campaign towards the 2016 election which was sponsored by Star-Ghana, UK Aid, DANIDA and the European Union.
Also, “Saint and Sinners” which focused on galamsey and was sponsored by WaterAid Ghana and the Media Coalition Against Galamsey.
Another work that made social impact was “Men don die,” a road safety campaign sponsored by the National Road Safety Commission.
World Theater Day
The World Theatre Day (WTD), initiated by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1961, has been celebrated since 1962 as an annual global celebration that fosters the values of theatre as an art form.
The day is also set aside to commemorate the art form “theater”, which is celebrated by ITI centres, cooperating members, theatre professionals, universities, organisations and enthusiasts.
It is a day on which theatre practitioners call to action, the government, politicians, as well as institutions and individuals, to realise the potential of theatre to improve every aspect of life.
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