The COVID-19 pandemic deprived film makers the opportunity to keep their audience entertained and informed with their productions as the theatres and cinemas remained shut during the peak period of the pandemic.

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Ghana has surely come as a relief to movie lovers and the film making industry.

The Royal View Cinema and Sports Lounge has been opened in Kumasi just when the restrictions were eased. The facility, situated at the new SG Mall, has three halls with seating capacity of 160, 40 and 30, satisfying diverse interests of producers and moviegoers

Filmmakers like Louis Lamis of the ‘Kejetia Vs Makola’ court drama series fame, are already excited at the value addition to exhibiting their movies and accessing potential consumers of the arts.

“For the first time in the city of Kumasi and in the country, filmmakers plus their cast can have the space where after watching the movie, they can interact, play and have fun. It’s a space to engage our audience hours after a show, for networking and discussions,” he observed.

The Play

The Play is a comic film from the stables of Liezer-Legacy productions.

One bad move to invite a girlfriend over opens the Pandora's Box of envy, backbiting, mix ups and more sneaky deeds between a mischievous husband and his self-righteous wife whose innocence also gets questioned.

The Play has rib-cracking performances from popular television, radio and movie characters including, Clemento Surarez, Jeneral Ntatia, Nana Gyasi Owusu (NGO), Rebecca Mauro, Eno Safo, Dr. Boakye Buadu and Akosua Serwaa Afriyie.

The Play is travelling across the country in partnership with Joy Prime, and the train stops in Kumasi from Friday April 29 to Tuesday May 3, 2022.

Louis Lamis is promising patrons of a great time watching The Play as he takes the Ghanaian filmmaking and comedy to a whole new level of excitement.

He says the Royal View Cinemas provides a perfect space for The Play to be accessed by moviegoers.

“Royal View Cinema offers me and other filmmakers the opportunity to exhibit our films in the most exciting environment. It’s a space where cinema lovers not only come to watch films but play games, hang out and have fun,” said Louis.

Entertainment growth in Kumasi

Kumasi’s entertainment industry has great potential to grow because of new elements coming on stream, including the in-land port and the Kumasi International Airport projects.

The ease in travel and enhanced business opportunities drive numbers to the city, which inadvertently impacts investments and patronage of entertainment facilities.

“Kumasi is already the cultural hub of the country, but is becoming more cosmopolitan with a number of events organizers planning activities to make the city not just a tourism destination but an events and recreational destination,” said Louis Lamis.

He advised players in the arts and entertainment industry to get well-positioned technically, technologically and financially to take advantage of the potential growth.

“It will be a big win if players position themselves well,” he said. “The potentials for the creative and entertainment industry to create jobs is enormous. One film set, for instance, can employ costume designers, set designers, camera, light, sound men, actors and there are the pre- and post-production teams as well as the marketing and distribution chain. So the job-creation chain is huge,” he emphasized.

These are in addition to content that can be created for radio, television and social media for the value chain.