Latif Abubakar, renowned Ghanaian playwright and CEO of Globe Productions, has expressed his enthusiasm for government’s plan to renovate the National Theatre in Accra and the proposed construction of a new theatre in Kumasi.
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5 FM, Latif Abubakar described the developments as a potential game-changer for Ghana’s theatre industry.
“I can see some signals, positive signals. We are excited about the budget. We pray that the minister is given the needed resources, as quoted in the budget, for her to execute what she’s supposed to do.” He said, adding that he knows for a fact that “she’s fighting for the industry, strongly… and that’s one of the reasons why at least we have some funds for the creative arts. But I hope and pray that those funds are readily available for her to utilise, and that her dreams of renovating the national theatre and building a new theatre as they promised… I’m very excited about it.“
Abubakar, who has been active in Ghana’s theatre scene since 2009, shared insights into the struggles he faced in the early years of his career, noting the difficulty of attracting audiences, securing corporate sponsorships, and finding suitable venues. Despite these challenges, he highlighted the resilience required to grow the industry.
“Once you’ve gotten to this level, there’s nothing you can do than keep moving,” he said. He also cited the importance of entertaining, educating, and provoking audiences in order to sustain interest in theatre.
The playwright recounted how the renovation and building of new facilities could help alleviate challenges related to limited venues. Over the past seven years, Globe Productions has staged performances at the Accra International Conference Centre due to limited space and high competition for dates at the National Theatre. “We need to create space for others. That’s why I moved from the National Theatre and chose the conference centre as my venue,” he explained.
READ: Renovation of National Theatre a “very good call” – Arnold Asamoah-Baidoo
Abubakar also emphasised the role of theatre in preserving Ghanaian culture, nurturing future generations, and telling the country’s story to the world. He expressed hope that government’s support will enable the vision of a renovated and new theatre to materialize.
READ: Ghanaian theatre industry acceptance still around 37% – Latif Abubakar
On the state of theatre in Ghana today, Abubakar noted that the industry has grown, but there is still much room for improvement. According to him, if not for the new entries like Kobi Ansah and others, they wouldn’t have had an industry at all. He said they’ve moved from the 15 percent mark to around 37 percent acceptance when it comes to public awareness and participation in theatre events.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
