Veteran playwright Uncle Ebo Whyte has stressed that one of the principles that has defined his theatre career is punctuality, revealing that in 17 years of staging productions, none of his shows has ever started late.
He said he deliberately adopted this discipline to set a new standard in Ghana’s theatre industry.
“I will not start any show late. For the 17 years that I have been doing this, with four shows a quarter and 63 plays staged, we haven’t started one show late ever.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
Uncle Ebo explained that his commitment to punctuality stemmed from lessons learned during his earlier failures in theatre. “I don’t believe in Ghana Man Time. These are the same Ghanaians who go abroad and are never late. So why should it be different here?” he asked.
Uncle Ebo added that such discipline, coupled with consistency, has helped establish Roverman Productions as one of Ghana’s leading theatre companies.
“The three failed productions taught me a lot. If you want to succeed, you must be disciplined, and for me, that discipline begins with starting on time. Being on time is one way of respecting the audience and respecting your own craft. That is why, no matter what, I will not start a show late.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
And now, that same discipline and dedication lead him into the next chapter, his latest production, ‘Voices in My Head’.
His bold new play is scheduled to run from 5 to 14 September at the National Theatre.
Uncle Ebo Whyte Humbled Working Under Junior
The Playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions revealed that his first job after being wrongfully dismissed came through someone who was once his junior in secondary school.
Uncle Ebo said the dismissal left him at home for a year and a half with no income to support his family. Despite the hardship, he recounted how he and his household never lacked food.
“It looked like somebody had put a camera in our kitchen. Anytime we were running out of food, we would wake up to find rice, oil, and other items left at the door. I remember praying to God for chicken for Christmas, but instead, we woke up to find the biggest white sheep tied to a tree in our compound. That was the only time my family had sheep for Christmas.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
According to him, his first breakthrough came when his former junior in secondary school secured an accounting contract and asked him to supervise it. “Though he struggled to offer me the role because I was once his school prefect, I accepted it with humility because I needed the job. That was my first job after being fired,” Uncle Ebo noted.
He further revealed how Mr. K.T. Dadzie and his wife, Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, later employed him at First African Group Limited despite his past dismissal history.
“I told Mr. Dadzie my case was still in court and promised to resign if found guilty. He simply said, ‘Okay.’ That was it. They trusted me, and I really enjoyed working with them.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
Uncle Ebo also recounted his transformative experience as General Manager at Kinapharma under Mr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku and his wife, Florence.
“Working with Kofi Nsiah is the reason I can run my own business today. I had front-row seats to how he operated, and I learned a lot about running a business in Ghana. Even today, he still treats me like a brother.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed deep gratitude to those who gave him opportunities when society had written him off. “So, I owe those people a lot,” he said.
Uncle Ebo Whyte Began Journey Through Acting
The renowned playwright recounted how his journey in theatre began as an actor before evolving into a celebrated playwright and director.
He revealed that his first encounter with theatre came during his secondary school days, when a friend introduced him to a drama group.
“My encounter with theatre was as an actor in secondary school. A mate of mine, who is now deceased, told me about the Youth For Christ Ministry’s theatre company in town. I joined as an actor, then later became the artistic director. Within three months, I found myself inheriting the group because the leader had been transferred from Accra to Tamale.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
According to him, the group, made up of about 40 to 45 young people, met every Sunday. Hence, to keep them engaged, he began writing plays. “To keep them occupied, I learned to write and direct. I did this for about 11 years,” Uncle Ebo explained.
He added that for more than a decade, he balanced this passion with full-time jobs, including his role with First African Group Limited.
Uncle Ebo also noted that although he had long recognized theatre as his calling, as far back as 1976, he initially struggled to see how it could be viable as a career.
“I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this is my calling. But at the time, there was no way of knowing how it could be commercially viable. So I did all kinds of things while still trying my hand at theatre.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
He eventually decided to fully commit to his gift, moving into commercial theatre and later establishing Roverman Productions, which has grown into one of Ghana’s leading theatre companies.
Looking back on that moment, he remembered a voice that changed his direction in life: “The voice that spoke to me said, a lot of people work with their certificates and training, but real fulfilment and success come when you work within the area of your gifting. That was when I accepted the challenge to enter commercial theatre,” he recalled.
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