Dr. Felicia Owusu – Ansah
Felicia Owusu-Ansah is an Applied Theatre scholar who holds a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from the University of Ghana. Felicia’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree was obtained from the afore mentioned university where she is a faculty member in the Applied Theatre unit. Her research interests include, developing new approaches to theatre for development and research purposes as well.as Augusto Boal’s theatre approaches and the use of indigenous knowledge for education. Felicia has done extensive work in organising and has facilitated Theatre for Development Programmes to campaign against social issues including ‘Irregular Migration’ in Ghana with support from Ghana Immigration Service, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana and British High Commission Accra. She has also worked proficiently with the use of theatre to address other social issues like ‘Care and Support for people living with HIV/AIDS’ and some health related issues in Ghana with support from Care International-Ghana (Obuasi). Her other research interest involves abuse and teen-mom empowerment. She is a member of International Federation of Theatre Research, Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed and African Theatre Association. Felicia is the founder and artistic director of Akuaba Theatre Productions (An NGO that employs Applied Theatre for Community empowerment and individual development).
CONTACT E-MAIL: motiongh@yahoo.com
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION
MFA (Theatre Arts), 2008: University of Ghana, Legon. Ghana.
Thesis on: Social and Economic Effect of Emigration in Ghana: Theatre as Intervention.
Diploma in Theatre Arts (3-Year), 2001: University of Ghana, Legon. Ghana.
Long Essay: Care and Support for People Living with AIDS: The Role of Theatre for Development.
Teacher’s Certificate “A,” 3-Year, 1994. Wesley College, Kumasi, Ghana
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Theatre as witness to irregular migration issues
CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/ WORKSHOPS
Presenter, “International Conference on Creative Arts Pedagogy”, organised by School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana at J. H. Nketia Hall, University of Ghana. On October 19th- 20th 2012, I presented a paper on “The Bridge to Hope: Theatre for Development Approaches in Curbing Irregular Migration in Ghana
Presenter, International Conference organised by Ghana Immigration Service on Countering Human Trafficking and other Irregular Migration on 5th – 6th July, 2012.
I presented a paper entitled “National Consciousness and Migration: The Role of Theatre”
Presenter, International Conference on Migration and Development, organised by Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana at M Plaza Hotel, Accra. June 19-20, 2012. I presented a paper on “New Trends in Curbing Irregular Migration in Ghana: The Case of Theatre”.
Presenter, Faculty of Arts 10th Annual Colloquium organized by the Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Accra.
Presented paper on “Objects of Affection: Depiction of Violence and Sexual Abuse Against Women in film productions in Ghana”. April, 2012
Participant, Workshop on Theatre in Schools, organised by Theatre for Change in Collaboration with School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, Oct., 27, 2011.
Participant, Workshop on Irregular Migration and its Consequences, organized by the Migration Management Bureau of the Ghana Immigration Service held at Kimbu Senior High School, Tudu, Accra. Presented paper and a play on “The Irregular Migrant,” June 2011.
Participant, International Workshop on Academic Writing and Publishing, organized by African Theatre and Performance Research (IFTR), University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
Participant, Faculty of Arts 9th Annual Colloquium, organized by the Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Accra. Presented paper on “Objects of Affection: Depictions of Violence and Sexual Abuse Against Women in film productions in Ghana”. April, 2011.
Participant, conference on Empowering Women for Leadership Position, organized by West-Central Africa Division Women Ministries Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, August ,2009.
Presenter/Participant, Workshop on Migration and Ghana, Exploring the Challenges and Finding Solutions, organized by the British High Commission, Accra, Ghana.
Presented a paper entitled “The Pedagogy of the Desert Traveller”. Feb. 2009.
Participant, Workshop on Migration and Development Initiative in Ghana, organized by United Nations Development Project and Joint Migration and Development Initiative(UNDP/JMDI), Feb., 2009. Participant, Workshop on Counter - Trafficking and Irregular Migration, organized by the Ministry of Interior of the Ghana Government and the International Organisation of Migration, Accra. May, 2008.
Participant, Conference on Prospects in Women Empowerment, organized by Ark Foundation, Accra, Kama Conference Hall, Accra. July, 2007.
Participant, Workshop on Irregular Migrants, Remittances and Development, organized by International Organization for Migration (IOM), Accra. Nov., 2007
Participant, Workshop on African Dance and Theatre, organized by American Dance Festival, Duke University, North Carolina, USA. June, 2005
Participant, Workshop on African Dance and Theatre, organized by American Dance Festival, Duke University, North Carolina, USA. June, 2004
Participant , Workshop on African Dance And Theatre organized by American Dance Festival, Duke University (in New York, New York, USA. Dec., 2003.
STAFF PRODUCTION PRESENTATIONS
AUG. 26, 2010
Many Rivers to Cross, a Theatre for Development Production undertaken by me for Department of Theatre Arts, School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana on a campaign against irregular migration. I created a model which used both games and improvised drama, recruited students and facilitated the performance a post performance discussion them for the performance at Efua T. Sutherland Drama Studio, University of Ghana.
SEPT. 4, 2003
When she is dead, a play by Saint Abdullai Alhassan, as a Staff Production for the Department of Theatre Arts at the Efua Sutherland Drama Studio, School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana.
CONSULTANCY AND EXTENSION WORK
Consultant, TFD Project: Campaign and Workshops on Migration by the British High Commission, Accra in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August, 2012
Consultant TFD Project: Research Report Dissemination Workshops in Nkoranza, Techiman and Dormaa Ahenkoro of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana, funded by the Centre for Migration Studies of the University of Ghana and the British High Commission, Accra. June 2011 Activities carried out included the following:
Recruited volunteers from the communities and trained them on the use of theatre for community education.
Created a play in collaboration with communities on the effects of irregular and regular migration titled, Travel the Right Way
Consultant, TFD Project, April 2010:
Facilitated the creation and performance of Forum Theatre entitle The Beast Among Us to educate the public on the effects of regular and irregular migration. Funded by the Ministry of Interior of Ghana Government at the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence for the launch of the Migration Unit of Ministry of Interior.
Consultant, TFD Project , Dec., 2009
Developed and facilitated the performance of a TFD project entitled Fa kwan pa so tu kwan pa Travel right) at Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana. Funded by Migration
Management Bureau of the Ghana Immigration Services.
Consultant, TFD Project, June 2009.
Reunification of victims of Child trafficking and their families. Organised by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at Old Ningo in the Ga-Adangbe East District of the Greater Accra Region.
Provided training on play improvisation to victims of child trafficking rescued from Yeji, a community along the Volta Lake of Ghana Facilitated the final performance of a play entitled What did I do to Deserve this Life, Mother?
Consultant, TFD Project, Feb.2008.
Developed and facilitated a Forum Theatre on problems faced by irregular migrants in the U K. at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Accra. Funding was provided by the Migration Dept. British High Commission in Accra, and the title of the performance was Beyond the Greener Pastures .
Consultant, TFD Projects. Funded by IOM, Sept– Nov. 2008
Developed and Facilitated performances of TFD campaign projects on Combating Irregular Migration with communities in Greater Accra and Western Regions of Ghana .