Nana Fredua Agyeman Ofori-Atta (2nd right) presenting a copy of the strategy plan to Mr Ato Afful looking on are from right Ms Adwoa Serwaa Bonsu, Editor, Graphic Showbiz, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, Mr Anane Adjei and Mrs Amy Appiah Frimpong. Picture: EBOW HANSON

National Theatre explores partnership with GCGL

Jayne Buckman-Owoo Showbiz News Apr - 27 - 2019 , 12:59

A three-member delegation from the National Theatre has called on the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ato Afful, to discuss partnership opportunities, especially in promoting their programmes.

The delegation led by Nana Fredua-Agyeman Ofori-Atta, Board Chairman of the National Theatre, included the Executive Director of the Theatre, Mrs Amy Appiah Frimpong, and Communications Director, Mr Anane Adjei.

At the meeting, Nana Ofori-Atta outlined what the National Theatre was set up to do while urging the GCGL to come on board as partners.

“We want attention from Graphic, we want that relationship that helps us promote what we are set up to do. We do a lot of things; we are typically known for dance, music and drama, put together as the performing arts.

“But we are also typically known only for coming to that building; you come to that building and you expect things to happen and when you leave you are done with the National Theatre, but we beg to differ because we are required to do more than that.

“We are supposed to show ourselves and Ghanaians what we are capable of doing. If we are going to get people to come to our events and our events should be across the country, one of the best ways to do this is to have a relationship with media houses and what better place to start than the Graphic Communications Group Limited. We want to be on all of your platforms, we have a lot of information,” he concluded.

For her part, Mrs Frimpong observed that people refered to the building when they talked about the National Theatre.

“We realised that our identity has been tied to the building. But our mandate is to develop and promote the performing arts, it has nothing to do with the building.

“And we believe that our role is to be the heart and soul of Ghana and, therefore, regardless of geographic, economic, social, religious, whatever barriers there are, we have to be able to meet people where they are.

“Our other role is to build new audiences and to keep our culture alive. And so for us, our programmes, especially the children’s programmes, are intended to build future audiences because we know that there is a large group of students who finished university and have never seen a live performance before. If that happens it is very unlikely that they will see a live performance when they are adults,” she stated.

Mr Afful welcomed the idea of a partnership. “The National Theatre is not a destination, it’s actually an ambition that we should all be pushing. It is imperative that we walk this conversation. The call is simple, we are committed to partnering you to walk this conversation.

“We are committed to speaking to Ghana, we will help you drive this because it is in the interest of all of us. The National Theatre is not a destination, it’s a national ambition,” he said.

The Director of News at GCGL, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, added a statement: “We all pride ourselves in the fact that our culture is rich but Ghanaians somehow do not appreciate it because we don’t see it all the time.

“It should not only be about the big festivals, there are small villages with rich festivals. We need this collaboration because there are so many things happening in your corner that Ghanaians don’t know.”