Everybody calls him Uncle

James Ebo Whyte

For a person who has been widely applauded for his attempts at reviving theatre in Ghana today, it comes as a surprise that Mr James Ebo Whyte (everybody calls him uncle) is not really a theatre person.

Uncle Ebo Whyte is a marketer by profession but whenever he is asked what he does for a living he replies "I do a bit of everything." Indeed that is exactly what he said when Showbiz "ambushed" him at his Kokomlemle office last Tuesday morning as he walked in "Are you a theatre person?", the question was rather direct.

"Yes and no", he replied. "I am not a trained Theatre person, read Statistics at the University of Ghana at a time when the Arts Centre was the biggest theatre house in Ghana. I understand that the arts is serious business and one must understand the market and approach theatre with the same seriousness and expertise that you will handle the marketing of toothpaste or any other product."

Uncle Ebo started his journey into the world of theatre when he joined a drama troupe called Youth For Christ. "Soon after I joined, the leader of the group was transferred to Tamale and I was made the leader, being one of the older people in the group."

He started writing and producing plays in 1975. Some of his plays are Man Must Live, The Trial, Widows Confession, Devil's Wife, Wedding behind Closed Door and Unhappy Wives; Confused Husbands.

His latest play, House of Secrets comes off this Saturday, June 6 at the National Theatre. "It is a total emotional experience, you will cry, laugh, infuriated by someone on stage, outraged and then you will cry some more and laugh some more," was his response to what patrons should expect.

Talking about how he arrives at his cast, Uncle Ebo said that initially his idea was to have auditions for every production but "after my first batch of actors, I found that they were very committed and I have been pleased to maintain them. I have only had to do two more auditions to add to my first batch. In choosing my cast, I look out for passion and not qualification."

He concedes that producing theatre is expensive business, averaging GHC45, 000 per production. In one of his Roverman Productions brochures, he lists costs that include: cost of developing the script and acquiring the rights to the script; the cost of printing the script; hiring of the performance hall; cost of casting and of rehearsals; cost of publicity and promotion; cost for designing the stage; cost of paying the cast; cost of hiring, equipment like lights and PA systems; cost of paying crew like: lights people and sound people, make-up artistes and costume designers.

Ideally, he says, these costs should be covered by sponsorship from corporate organizations but sponsorship is not always available. He is grateful to such as MTN, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic Bank, National Theatre, Joy FM and Tropical Cable who have given him support at one time or the other for his productions.

Besides being a writer, Uncle Ebo is publisher of Rover Report Monthly, a magazine that reports on values, attitudes and faith for discerning people. He has also been commenting on social and political issues on Joy FM s Super Morning Show for the past thirteen years.

How does Uncle Ebo juggle with his rather demanding assignments? "When you love what you are doing, it is easy. Anyone who finds himself doing what he loves finds it easy."

Guess what? Uncle Ebo does not use a mobile phone, fact is he has never owned one and doesn't intend to, "I am not that important to be reached at any time, whoever wants to reach me can reach me on my landline. I am not saying that mobile phones are not important but as a writer, I need my space.

Uncle Ebo walks to unwind, "I walk an average of four miles every other day. I also love watching good movies, reading and listening to music. I love music so much but I can't sing.

A plate of fried rice with anything or fried sweet potatoes is all one needs to get Uncle Ebo to Come for lunch or dinner. He has been married to Florence for the past 27 years. His surviving parent is Madam Ama Essama.

Schooling for this well-read gentleman started at the South Suntreso SDA Primary, South LA Middle School and Osu Presby Secondary School for his O'Levels; he was the school prefect. He wrote his A'Levels as a private candidate before entering the University of Ghana where he read Statistics.

Uncle Ebo was one time the General Manager for Kinapharma and the head of Finance and Marketing at Asempa Publishers.

There was no way our interview with Uncle Ebo Whyte was going to end without a message for everyone,

"Ghanaians should be proud and confident of our own. We tend to celebrate only what is foreign, but we are a blessed people and Ghana is a blessed nation."