… set stage for entry into multi-billion-dollar industry
Distinguished playwright Latif Abubakar is set to reprise his collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Accra to showcase Ghana’s theatre industry on the global stage with the adaptation of the prominent Spanish play, Pedro Calderon de la Barca’s ‘Life is a Dream’.
Life is a Dream is set to be performed at the Accra International Conference Centre on May 27 and 28, 2023, with shows at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at select locations or through a designated short code. The production promises to captivate audiences with its unique African interpretation, marking another significant step in placing Ghana’s theatre industry on the international map.
The move comes following the resounding success of the first collaboration – the adaptation of Miguel Delibes’ ‘Five Hours with Mario’ in 2022, which received immense local support and garnered over 3.5 million live views as a virtual live play on COVID-19.
Speaking with the B&FT, he explained that the partnership aims to deepen the cultural ties between Spain and Ghana, extending beyond traditional trade relations. “We have undertaken this because the Spanish Embassy has decided to contribute significantly to the creative arts in Ghana. Their objective is to support mutually beneficial projects and they are helping us achieve our objective of taking our craft to a global audience,” he said.
This comes as the trade relationship between Ghana and Spain has witnessed steady growth over the years. In 2021, Ghana’s exports to Spain reached a total value of US$271million. The primary export products from Ghana to Spain were crude petroleum (US$130million), cocoa paste (US$63.7million), and cocoa beans (US$35.4million), according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).
This represents a significant increase in exports compared to 1995 when exports stood at US$56.1million. Over the past 26 years, Ghana’s exports to Spain have experienced an annualised growth rate of 6.25 percent. Conversely, Spain’s exports to Ghana in 2021 amounted to US$290million. The major products exported from Spain to Ghana included unglazed ceramics (US$42.9million), flavoured water (US$27million), and pesticides (US$9.73million).
The export figures have been steadily rising since 1995 when Spain’s exports to Ghana were valued at US$49.6million. Over the past 26 years, Spain’s exports to Ghana have seen an annualised growth rate of 7.03 percent.
Already, leading consultants PwC, in its Perspectives from the Global Entertainment & Media (E&M) Outlook 2022–2026, forecasts that by 2026, the global industry will approach US$3trillion in revenues.
With the evident absence of any significant level of services exported, Mr. Abubakar was confident that the play would prove crucial in rewriting the narrative. “Our project from last year was shown in Spain and that ties into our aim of not only showcasing the talent that abounds in Ghana but also, we will begin to receive a necessary foreign exchange for it,” he added.
About the play
Dating back to 1635, La vida es sueño (Life is a dream) – which has been listed as one of the 40 greatest plays of all time in The Independent – has been performed extensively throughout Europe, but never in Africa.
The adaptation will offer a Ghanaian and Afrocentric perspective, focusing on themes of morality, honour, vengeance and the conflict between free will and fate. The play explores profound aspects of human experience, emphasising the transitory nature of sensory perception and the pursuit of self-knowledge.
The adaptation has garnered greater importance in a time of heightened confusion and uncertainty as it presses home messages about striving for goodness and pursuing reality amidst illusion, resonating strongly with audiences worldwide.
The is scheduled to be performed at the Accra International Conference Centre on May 27 and 28, 2023, with shows at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at select locations or through a designated short code.
