Audiences hail Gayina’s Pound of Flesh after explosive opening weekend

It was laughter. It was suspense. It was emotion. And when the curtain finally fell, audiences rose to their feet in thunderous applause.

The opening weekend of Gayina’s Pound of Flesh, Ghana’s first original African adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, has been met with overwhelming praise from theatre lovers, literary enthusiasts and first-time patrons alike, with many describing the production as one of the finest Ghanaian stage plays in recent memory.

Written and directed by George Quaye, the production enjoyed four hugely successful performances at the National Theatre over the weekend, leaving audiences talking long after they had left the auditorium.

Among the reactions:

“A masterpiece. George Quaye has done something extraordinary with Shakespeare.”

“I laughed, I cried, I reflected. This is the kind of theatre Ghana deserves.”

“The courtroom scene alone is worth the price of admission.”

“You don’t watch Gayina’s Pound of Flesh. You experience it.”

“A standing ovation wasn’t enough.”

The play follows the story of Efo Gayina, a traditionalist moneylender whose years of rejection and ridicule culminate in one of the most gripping courtroom battles ever staged in Ghanaian theatre. Rich with humour, suspense and unforgettable performances, the production explores justice, mercy, religious tolerance, prejudice and the consequences of our treatment of one another.

Speaking after the opening weekend, George Quaye expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response.

“We knew we had a strong production, but nothing prepares you for hearing audiences laugh in one moment, fall completely silent in the next, and then rise to applaud at the end. It has been a deeply humbling experience. I want to thank every single person who came to support Ghanaian theatre.”

Quaye believes the reception demonstrates that audiences are eager for original Ghanaian stories rooted in universal themes.

“This production proves that we can take one of the world’s greatest literary works and reinterpret it through our own culture without losing its power. In fact, it becomes even more relatable because the audience sees themselves in the story.”

With only one weekend of performances remaining, demand for tickets is expected to increase as word-of-mouth continues to spread across social media and traditional media platforms.

The final performances of Gayina’s Pound of Flesh will take place on Saturday, 8 August and Sunday, 9 August, with shows at 4p.m. and 8p.m. at the National Theatre.

Tickets are GHS 200 and are available at www.imagebureaugh.com or by dialing *714*46#.

For enquiries, call 055 131 3134.

Produced by Image Bureau, in partnership with April Communications and the National Theatre, Gayina’s Pound of Flesh is proudly supported by Nii Plants Car Rentals, The Daily Gist, Joy FM, and the Ghana Tourism Authority.

One final weekend. Four final performances.

The reviews are in.

Now it’s your turn to experience the production everyone is talking about.

Nana Prekoh Eric

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