The Kathy Knowles Theatre Company is producing the acclaimed play, THE
Legend of Aku Sika, by noted Ghanaian playwright, Martin Owusu, today
at the Nima/Maamobi Learning Centre, Kanda Highway, Accra.

The production is directed by a guest professional theatre director, Eric Rose. Mr Rose is from Canada and has been working with the company for a number of weeks. The cast and crew are from Nima.

Mr Rose said: "The Legend of Aku Sika is an important and a powerful play that challenges our preconceptions and prejudices of people who are deformed or disabled."

He added, "I am very honoured to be working with Martin Legend and the Kathy Knowles Theatre Company, a talented group of extraordinary emerging theatre artists from Maamobi."

The Legend of Aku Sika won the award for the best new play in 2007 in Ghana and won the playwright, Prof Owusu national and international acclaim.

The Legend of Aku Sika follows the plight of a beautiful young maiden who is fated by Odomankoma to suffer through life’s journey, losing both parents at an early age and her left arm in an accident.

Her life is on the precipice of changing as the new King asks for her hand in marriage.

However, before the marriage can take place, Nanayere Ama, the King’s eldest wife, accuses her husband of disrespecting her, his ancestral throne and the gods for trying to marry Aku. He is therefore asked to bring Aku before all the kingdom to reveal her missing arm.

The King will be dethroned in disgrace if it is true and Nanayere will lose her life if Aku is not deformed.

This inspiring drama celebrates the imperfections and the differences in people, leaving a powerful message of love and understanding.

During the course of rehearsals, the company had great pleasure of hosting Prof. Owusu.

He spoke to the company about the motive behind writing the play. "It is a very personal experience," he said. "It took me six years to write this masterpiece. This is a play that reveals the mysteries of life and examines the issues of human imperfections.

I am glad you are helping me in distributing this strong message to the public," he concluded.

The Kathy Knowles Theatre Company Limited was formed in December 1998, at the Nima-Maamobi Gale Community Library, under the auspices of the Osu Library Fund a Canadian organisation.

The company is located at the Kanda Highway Old Bridge, near the Kawokudi soccer field.

The performance today, directed by Eric Rose in association with Martin Legend, is free and starts at 6:30 p.m.

For further information contact Martin Legend on Tel. 0246579156. E-mail: legendm30@yahoo.com.