Accra: The curtains may have closed but the echoes of drums, applause, and laughter still linger in the air as the 2025 Ghana Theatre Festival ended in a whirlwind of rhythm, color, and cultural celebration. Held at the National Theatre from September 23 to 28, the six-day extravaganza transformed the iconic venue into a pulsating hub of life, where Ghanaian daily experiences were brought vividly to the stage.
According to Ghana News Agency, the festival, themed: 'Showcasing the Rich Diversity of Ghanaian Culture through Performing Arts,' dazzled thousands with a variety of theatre, dance, spoken word, music, and traditional performances. The plays tackled love, loss, injustice, laughter, hope, and exposed the ills of society - all interwoven with the soulful thread of Ghanaian identity.
The nights were spectacular with Ghanaian artists and groups showcasing their unique styles, turning the spotlight on everything from folklore and customs to contemporary issues and urban youth culture. The festival started with an arts exhibition, food bazaar, and honoring of legends of theatre arts on September 23, and the arts exhibition and food bazaar took place throughout the event.
On September 24, some selected Senior High Schools carried out a series of theatre performances led by the Accra Academy Senior High School. The day was climaxed by dance performances and the drama 'Love in Transit.' A symposium about Ghana's tax regime on the fortunes of arts and culture took place on September 25 in the day and was captivated with some dance aerobics, musicals, and Gold Coast Lounge film screening in the evening.
Whilst on September 26, there were costume parades, dance performances, and a drama 'Sajii' meaning issues. On the 27, there were displays of set designing, costume parade, and drama as well. The festival was climaxed on the 28 with a display of costume parade and makeup and the enviable drama 'Run For Your Wife' by Image Bureau Production led by actor and director George Quaye.
Mr. Henry Herbert Malm, Acting Executive Director, National Theatre, under whose tutelage the festival took place, said the six days had given the best masterclass sessions of excitement, experiences, lessons, and culture identity. 'There is a lot that we have all learnt from these undertakings and we hope to perfect the good ones while working to improve those that did not live up to the billing. We can only get better by resetting to deliver an improved version of the festival in 2026,' he said.
As the final curtain fell, cheers rang out, not just in appreciation of the performances but for the festival's deeper achievement - uniting Ghanaians and the diaspora in a shared celebration of identity, heritage, and artistry. The National Theatre Festival 2025 wasn't just a show - it was a movement, a memory, and a mirror held up to a vibrant and evolving nation.
The artists and group performers who graced the event were from the Ghana Dance Ensemble, Ghana Drama Company, National Symphony Orchestra - all under the National Theater, School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana. The productions were by Roverman, Banarakor Consult, Image Bureau, and April Communications.
