'The Licence', a new play to be staged by Latif Abubakar's Globe Productions Limited, has been launched in Accra.

This project which is in partnership with the Embassy of Italy in Ghana, was launched on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at the residence of the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Daniela d'Orlandi.

The play, is an adaptation of 'The Licence', a literary work originally authored by Italian novelist, Luigi Pirandello. It explores themes of bureaucracy, absurdity, and an individual's struggle against oppressive systems.

Latif had previously partnered the Embassy of Spain in Ghana to adapt and stage two Spanish plays into Afrocentric versions for Ghanaian theatre consumers.

Speaking at the launch of the play, the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Daniela d'Orlandi, said the quality of plays from the camp of Latif Abubakar and his exquisite adaptations of other European plays inspired the partnership, so she could use the opportunity to promote Italian theatre, and consequently the Italian culture in Ghana.

Ms d'Orlandi added that the collaboration between Ghana and Italy in the theatre industry boded well for exchange of culture between both countries.

“I do hope that this will not be a one-time thing, but lead to more plays," she said.

"I also hope that this will set an example for other foreign countries to follow," Ms d'Orlandi added.

In his address, the Playwright and CEO of Globe Productions Limited, Latif Abubakar who reiterated his commitment to projecting Ghana’s theatre industry to the world, highlighted the importance of the Italy-Ghana relationship beyond traditional trade to arts and culture.

"We at Globe Productions remain committed to projecting Ghana's theatre to the world and as such, we hope to deepen the Italy-Ghana relationship beyond traditional trade to arts and culture.

"This partnership, like the others we have, would once again set our country on another world stage and I am pleased to be a part of this collaboration," he said.

As pacesetters of virtual live play on COVID-19 with a record 3.5 million live views, and credited with hosting one of Africa's biggest theatrical ventures; The Second Coming of Nkrumah, with over 500 cast and crew which created about a 1000 direct and indirect jobs, the celebrated playwright said, his dreams and passion of projecting Ghana’s theatre industry beyond Ghana and the African continent remains a reality with the launch of this play.

The playwright stated that his journey with the Embassy of Italy has been a sturdy work in progress, and as such, he was deliberate about putting in stronger efforts for the mutual benefits of both parties and countries.

About 'The Licence'
Written by Italian dramatist, novelist and poet, Luigi Pirandello 'The Licence' was first published in a newspaper in 1911, and later adapted into a theatrical work, appearing on stage in 1917 in a Sicilian adaptation.

Touching on a series of familiar Pirandellian tropes, the play speaks to the author's realist interest in representing the actual ways in which law and social custom combine to limit or define the horizons of life for individuals, who are subject to the law.

The play which is being adapted into an Afrocentric version for the first time by myself and the team at Globe Productions Limited will show at the Accra International Conference Center on the 4th, 5th, and 6th May, 2024.