Renowned Ghanaian playwright and ImageBureau CEO, George Quaye, has shed light on why theatre in Ghana struggles with low patronage, attributing it to a historical perception of theatre as a free commodity.

Speaking on Hitz FM, Quaye highlighted that many Ghanaians have grown accustomed to consuming theatre without paying, a mindset rooted in the past when theatre productions were often offered at no cost.

Quaye emphasised the need to elevate this mindset, urging stakeholders to collaborate rather than compete.“I’ve been asked many times why I share many people’s plays even when I'm running my plays. Why? Because we cannot compete. We need to collaborate.

“We cannot compete because we haven’t gotten to where the musicians have gotten to. Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy can compete. Sarkodie and Samini can compete. King Promise and KiDi, Kuami Eugene, they can all compete. They can because, globally, they have gotten recognition," he said.He drew parallels with the music industry's global recognition, pointing out that while musicians like Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy can command high ticket prices, theatre productions struggle to achieve the same level of patronage.

To foster growth, Quaye advocated for a collective effort to change people's perceptions about theatre's value, stressing that it's an art form deserving of financial support and recognition.