The artistic space of theatre and the sacred space of religion(s) both require a step beyond the everyday into an abstract world. There is a performativity in both spaces that is physical and embodied yet also simultaneously engaging with intangible aspects of community and society. The spaces of art and religion not only comment on society, but can also work to catalyse change in such societies.
In this paper, I will unpack how theatre served as a vehicle to promote inter-faith tolerance in Ghana. Based on research in 2017, I will explore the spaces of design, rehearsal and performance of a play titled “Reflections” as created by the National Theatre in collaboration with the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts School. Reflecting on this work, I ask how the “make believe” space of performance may open up new conversation between those with different religious beliefs, and consider how an emphasis on similarity rather than difference can promote joint responsibility of citizens to their country.