School of Performing Arts Partners with Play and Learn Foundation to Spotlight Social Realities Through Children’s Theatre

The School of Performing Arts (SPA) has partnered with Play and Learn Foundation (PAL), an NGO, to deliver a community-centred theatre production aimed at empowering children and highlighting pressing social issues faced by underserved communities.

Held at the Efua Sutherland Drama Studio, PAL Fest 2025 marked the first major collaboration between UG and the non-profit organisation, which works closely with children in low-income communities surrounding the University of Ghana. The event drew an audience of over 200, including university faculty, parents, volunteers, board members and invited guests.

The highlight of the evening was a one-hour musical drama titled Dreams in the Shadow. A devised performance created by and with children from the PAL Foundation. With a cast of 36 young performers, the production offered a raw and emotive glimpse into the lives of children who, despite difficult circumstances, hold on to dreams of education, self-fulfillment and freedom.

The production was the culmination of weeks of dedicated creative work. At its core was a collaborative team of theatre professionals and academics: the script was crafted by Ms. Efe Favour, a mentee and graduate student in the Department of Theatre Arts, with stage direction by Mr. Daniel Carl Clerk. Movement and choreography were brought to life under the artistic direction of Dr. David Esssilfi Quaye, while Dr. Francis Gbomittah, the Drama Studio Manager provided vital technical support from the studio. 

Steering the entire process was Dr. Margaret Ismaila, the Internship and Mentorship Coordinator of the Department of Theatre Arts, whose leadership spanned from concept development to final rehearsals. Her hands-on involvement, marked by rigorous feedback, artistic vision and a deep commitment to the children’s growth, was widely credited with shaping the production’s impact and polish.

Speaking before the performance, Dr Francis Gbormittah in a welcome address noted that, “Drama must do more than entertain. It must challenge, teach and elevate voices often left unheard. This partnership with Play and Learn Foundation allowed us to do exactly that; use the stage as a platform for truth-telling.”

Play and Learn Foundation, known for its work in education, arts and sports, welcomed the partnership as a crucial bridge between academia and grassroots engagement.

The Executive Director, Ms. Lutfata Sung-Bawiera expressed optimism about the future of the initiative. “Theatre has given our children not just a voice, but a way to reclaim their narratives. Collaborating with the School of Performing Arts has shown what is possible when institutions look beyond the walls of the classroom.,” she said.

PAL Fest 2024 adds to existing institutionalised arts-based community programming in the School of Performing Arts. Plans are already underway to establish the festival as an annual event and to integrate Theatre for Development (TfD) techniques to address real-world issues and provoke dialogue among families and community leaders.

As Ghana continues to navigate challenges around access to quality education and youth development, initiatives like PAL Fest 2024 demonstrate the transformative power of art when combined with community-driven action and academic expertise.