The Artistic Director and Lead Writer at Roverman Productions, James Ebo Whyte has shared his experience on how he got into the world of theatre arts.
The playwright, popularly known as Uncle Ebo Whyte said his journey into theatre began in his secondary school days at Osu Presby in1972/3 where he was given an opportunity to play a part in a production.
Mr Whyte said he used to have a very serious case of inferiority complex so he always stood by the window after school and watched the members of the drama troop rehearse.
He was speaking on Joy FM's Showbiz A to Z on Saturday.
Narrating how he got selected to be a part of the production, he said it started when a final year student from the School of Performing Arts came to Osu Presby to produce and direct a play as part of his final year project for six weeks.
According to him, three weeks into the rehearsals, the person cast for the lead role was not "cutting it". On one of the days, the playwright recounts, the lead role player showed up late and he was made to fill that spot.
Uncle Ebo said he performed well because he had always watched them rehearse and had taken the tips and correction thrown at the main character, therefore, he knew the script.
“He wasn’t getting his lines, he wasn’t his moves, and he wasn’t getting anything. But I would always go and stand at the window every afternoon to watch them so at the end of the third week, the group had assembled for rehearsals but the main guy hadn’t turned up and the director was getting very nervous because he didn’t have any time to lose so he couldn’t afford to wait for the boy to come.
"But that time, everybody who didn’t have a role had stop coming for rehearsals so he begins to look around for somebody and I was the only one standing by the window so he calls me you come, I couldn’t belief he as calling me so I looked behind me and he said why are you looking behind you? You are the only person there, I said come.
“So I go in there rather timidly not sure of myself and he gives me a script and says read this for us about 6 to 10 minutes later he stops the rehearsal and asked me have you performed this play before? I said no. and then said how come you know it and I said I don’t know it.
“The guy turns back about 20 minutes later and he had lost the role. And that was my introduction to theatre, “ he told host George Quaye.
Latest Stories
-
George Twum-Barimah-Adu pledges inclusive cabinet with Minority and Majority leaders
14 mins -
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
15 mins -
Parliament urged to fast-track passage of Road Traffic Amendment Bill
15 mins -
Mr Daniel Kofi Asante aka Electrician
16 mins -
Minerals Commission, Solidaridad unveils forum to tackle child labour in mining sector
21 mins -
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
22 mins -
‘Let’s work together to improve sanitation, promote health outcome’ – Sector Minister urges
23 mins -
Ellembelle MP cuts sod for six-unit classroom block at Nkroful Agric SHS
27 mins -
‘I’ll beat the hell out of you if you misbehave on December 7’ – Achiase Commanding Officer
29 mins -
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
35 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
41 mins -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
43 mins -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
44 mins -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
53 mins -
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
55 mins