As the theatre industry in Ghana keeps on going strong despite the so-called decline of the movie industry, beloved Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang has shared his preference for being on stage rather than being on screen.
The versatile actor, who has been in some stage plays including “The Slaves,” “Till A Rose” and “The Dilemma of a Ghost,” revealed that performing on stage in Ghana offers an unpredictable and exciting experience due to the nature of the Ghanaian audience.
According to him, Ghanaian theatre-goers are known for their lively participation, which can sometimes lead actors to break character.
He described this interaction as a "blessing in disguise," as it keeps performers engaged and in character despite unexpected outbursts from the crowd.
“It is exciting because you don't know what you get. And live audience, they build you. I mean, they do all the things that you shouldn't do in theatre, but in our part of the world, it is a blessing in disguise, because they get you to stay in character.
“Because you're on stage and somebody says something that could get you to crack up laughing, but you have to hold it in, so you step onto a Ghanaian stage and you know that, hey, man, you have to be focused and dialled-in because somebody can just say something silly,” he said.
Comparing the Ghanaian audience with Western audiences, Adjetey Anang noted that the latter are more structured, with laughter and reactions almost seeming choreographed.
“I have also had the experience of having a Western audience where it is very, very structured. We laugh at this time. It is as if it is a choreographed kind of thing. This is a tradition as against our tradition. And so, this is the excitement and then the fact that no performance is the same even when you are repeating it,” he said.
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