Shirley Frimpong-Manso takes the stage with ‘Honeymoon Hotel’

For the first time, award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker, Shirley Frimpong Manso will be making a stage as a director of the play, Honeymoon Hotel set for the National Theatre from June 20-22.

The production, courtesy Africa Arts Network is an original script by playwright Stephen Yaw Oppong. 

Bringing the story to life is a powerhouse ensemble cast featuring Joselyn Dumas, James Gardiner, Ama K. Abebrese, Godwin Namboh, Andrew Tandoh-Adote, Gadede Segbefia, David Dontoh, Jasmine Baroudi, Amanda Jissih and a seamless blend of other outstanding stage and screen actors.

Honeymoon Hotel is a witty and emotionally rich romantic dramedy set in a luxury hotel designed to celebrate everlasting love — but where not all is as romantic as it seems. As guests arrive with secrets, and the hotel staff navigate their own complicated relationships, chaos and comedy collide in unexpected ways.

The play tackles themes of love, commitment, deceit, and second chances with humour.

Speaking on her transition from screen to stage, Shirley shared: “Theatre is raw, immediate, and alive in a way that is different from film. I’m incredibly excited to be making my theatre debut — it’s been such a thrilling experience diving into rehearsals, working closely with this amazing cast, and rediscovering storytelling in its purest form. Honeymoon Hotel is going to be sensational. It’s funny, it’s got a lot of drama and surprises, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been cooking up.”

Africa Arts Network, producers of recent theatrical successes including In the Chest of a Woman and You Play Me, I Play You, is once again pushing the boundaries of Ghanaian theatre with a fresh, contemporary production by combining high-quality storytelling, top-tier talent, and immersive production experience.

“Honeymoon Hotel is more than a production — it’s a milestone intended to shift the market size and growth of the theatre industry upward,” said Kofi Adinkra, Founder of Africa Arts Network. “The introduction of Shirley Frimpong-Manso, one of Africa’s most renowned film directors, into the world of live theatre elevates the artistic standards of the production.

 It also reinforces the significance of creative crossover to industry growth. Alongside Shirley, the inclusion of notable screen actors to theatre, I believe will help break the barriers between mainstream film production and stage performances, attract new audiences, expand the theatre reach and re-establish theatre as a dynamic, commercially viable space for Ghanaian storytelling.”