A play – Romance in a Coffin – has been staged to educate the public on the need to save toward old age for some level of comfort since cash flow reduces in retirement, coupled with aging-related ailments.
Narrating the rationale behind the play, Writer and Director of Romance in a Coffin, Antoinette Dzorgbenyuie Letsa stated: “I was inspired to write on these themes because I have experienced the lives of some people who are on retirement now and are struggling to survive. On the other hand, those who made some plans before retirement and old age are feeling more serene”.
Mrs. Letsa, who is the Director of DM-SALT Drama Mansion, said it is also to build people’s spiritual lives daily, because death will surely come to each and every one. “If we are prepared spiritually and death comes, we will go to our final homes peacefully,” she added.
“From some of our beliefs in Africa, old age gets us closer to death; so it was a perfect fit for me to blend all to be able to come out with a play that would educate the public on issues at hand and provide a remedy for them.”
She noted that the team rehearsed for about two months to get the play ready for their audience – adding that the current play is the 6th stage play since the company’s commencement in 2017 with JOANNE 3:16 held in Tamale.
She stressed that funding has been a challenge because stage plays still feel new in the north, and therefore appealed for support to help revamp stage plays in the country.
Also, getting dedicated cast and crew members continues to be another challenge due to current economic issues, as well as little knowledge held by youth in the region.
She said stage plays help to show real life on stage, which helps to promote domestic tourism and cultural heritage whereby themes project the local ways of life, clothing, food, value for family and communal nature, among others.
She noted that stage plays educate, inform, counsel and entertain, and therefore should be appreciated and supported by individuals and groups financially or in-kind for the benefit of society.
She explained that the team, from 2023, will embark on short plays in offices and schools for edutainment.
