The National Theatre of Ghana has launched the Ghana Theatre Festival 2025, an annual arts festival that showcases the works of diverse artistes and performing arts groups in Ghana.   

The six-day festival, which takes place from September 23 to 28, aims to build the production capacity of theatre practitioners and provide performing arts groups and individual artists a platform to exhibit their works and talents.   

This year's event, which has a clarion call for the public and media to join in the exciting celebration, also seeks to foster community growth among theatre lovers and patrons and to ensure that quality productions remain accessible to diverse audiences.   

Acting Executive Director of the National Theatre, Henry Herbert Malm, said the festival was to celebrate and expose Ghana's rich cultural heritage and diversity, an action which is in line with the Theatre's core mandate.   

He said the Theatre needed to continually coordinate and give a platform to artists to express themselves, collaborate and discuss the challenges, prospects and opportunities in the sector and reflect on what steps to take forward.  

"The public, therefore, should expect fun, exhibition of culture, theatre like never before, and they should come and recognise who they are. We expect to put the best out there as far as theatre is concerned," Mr Malm said.   

He said there would be exhibition booths available for the audience to interact with the artistes on works, challenges and progress, adding that the festival would not only be fun but a platform for businesses and investments.   

The theme for the event is: "Showcasing the Rich Diversity of Ghanaian Culture through the Performing Arts," and some activities that would spice up the celebrations include 'Legends Night', where outstanding contributors to Ghana's creative arts and performing industry would be honoured.   

Other activities would be theatre performances by Senior High Schools aimed at promoting theatre arts amongst students, whilst giving them the platform to show their creative works.   

The Department of Music and School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Benarackor Consult, Images Bureau and April Communications, including the three companies of National Theatre: Ghana Dance Ensemble, National Symphony Orchestra and the National Drama Company, would undertake performances   

There will also be arts exhibitions, food bazaar, live paintings, dance aerobics and a symposium on arts taxation with a focus on the "impact of the current tax regime on the fortunes of the arts and cultural industry."  

Rev Micheal Antonio, Head of Performing Arts, Centre for National Culture, said they had partnered with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Roverman Production to imbibe in the young ones the Love for theatre on September 24. 

Mr Desmond Ali Alhassan Gassanga, Regional Cultural Coordinator, Greater Accra, GES, said the festival would go a long way in enhancing the Creative Arts and Design subject.