Stakeholders Urged To Commit Resources To Theatre Industry

The Chief Executive Officer of Globe Productions, Mr. Latif Abubakar, has urged stakeholders in Ghana’s theatre industry to commit more resources to the industry.

The playwright was 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 endeavour to commit technical and financial resources to spur the industry to international heights.

Mr. Abubakar was speaking in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) ahead of this year’s World Theatre Day celebration, which was observed Monday, March 27 on the theme, “Theatre and a Culture of Peace.”

He 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 theatre international.

He, however, added that theatre practitioners must equally put in their best to complement 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 world stage,” he said.

World Theatre Day (WTD), initiated by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1961, has been celebrated annually since 1962 to foster values of theatre as an art form.

Mr. Abubakar was of the view that the theatre industry was abound of extraordinary talents who would excel when given 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 had partnered with some international organisations including the Spanish Embassy, Star-Ghana, UK Aid, DANIDA and the European Union for several productions, said “the time is right again to take the theatre industry beyond the shores of Ghana.”

He said that the Ghanaian theatre had yet again become very attractive in recent times, hence the need to “show the world what we have to offer.”