Clemento Suarez In Pain About The National Theatre Deterioration

Comedian and actor Clemento Suarez has described the current state of the National Theatre as terrible and sad.

He explained that patrons are not at ease during events because the theatre lacks the amenities required to guarantee their safety and comfort. Speaking on 3Music TV’s Culture Daily, he revealed that he has used his platforms on multiple occasions to call out authorities for a change.

“It’s terrible. It’s quite sad. But they are doing what they can with the money they get. On the stage where we are performing, I give it to them. Sometimes I can call the director if you are there please come. I will let them clap for you and when you come I will ask if this place is good for you. Sometimes it is very painful. You invite a lot of people, they are sweating back there, they are complaining, they are not even paying attention to what is going on the stage. So it is painful and very sad.”

The comedian who recognized the state's efforts in highlighting the sector through its initiatives in December is still of the opinion that the government does not give Creative Arts enough attention.

He said, “Government is not paying attention to Creative Arts. It used to be a place for music shows, music awards and all those things but now you can’t do that. It’s quite worrying and the government and the Creative Arts industry, to be honest I don’t know what they are doing. Aside from this December stuff that they do, after that, I don’t see anything.”

Joining the discussion, Kobina Ansah, a Playwriter and Theatre Producer emphasized the need to have more theatres across the country.

“We need a lot of spaces like this not just in Accra but in all the other cities so that we will be able to take off the pressure on that space. Because the more pressure there is on the space the easier it deteriorates. That’s why probably most of the facilities there are not able to stand the test of time because every event is happening there.”

The Chinese constructed the National Theatre and presented it to Ghana as a gift; it opened its doors in 1992.