What happens when one of the world's greatest literary classics is retold through the lens of contemporary Ghanaian society?
That is the question Ghanaian playwright, producer and communications professional, George Quaye, seeks to answer with his latest theatrical production, Gayina's Pound of Flesh, a bold African adaptation of William Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, The Merchant of Venice.
Scheduled to premiere at the National Theatre of Ghana today and tomorrow, Sunday, August 2, and also on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, 2026, with performances at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day, the production promises to offer audiences far more than an evening of entertainment.
It promises a conversation.
Set in the bustling commercial city of Kumasi, Gayina's Pound of Flesh transforms Shakespeare's Venice into a vibrant Ghanaian world of transport businesses, market politics, family expectations, religious tension and cultural identity.
At the centre of the story is Efo Gayina, a traditionalist moneylender whose life has been shaped by years of ridicule and rejection because of his indigenous beliefs.
Opposite him stands Kwasi Oppong Kyekyeku, a respected Christian businessman whose friendship with the financially troubled Akwasi Afrifa sets in motion a dangerous financial agreement with consequences neither man could have imagined.
When the terms of that agreement are broken, the story races toward one of the most gripping courtroom confrontations ever staged in contemporary Ghanaian theatre.
Yet beneath the suspense lies a deeper question.
Can justice exist without mercy?
Speaking about the production, Quaye explains that his fascination with The Merchant of Venice began not with its famous courtroom scene, but with one unforgettable character.
"Shylock has always fascinated me. His words in Act Three, Scene One have stayed with me for years. I often wondered what they would sound like if they were spoken by a Ghanaian who had endured the same rejection, the same ridicule and the same pain. That curiosity eventually became Efo Gayina," he said.
Unlike many adaptations that simply relocate a story to a different setting, Gayina's Pound of Flesh seeks to reinterpret Shakespeare's enduring themes through distinctly African experiences.
The play examines religious intolerance, tribal prejudice, friendship, loyalty, justice, forgiveness and the consequences of alienating those whose beliefs differ from our own.
Rich in humour, emotionally charged performances and authentic Ghanaian dialogue, the production blends the elegance of Shakespearean storytelling with the rhythm, wit and colour of contemporary Ghanaian life.
For Quaye, however, the ambition extends beyond the stage.
He hopes the play will find a place in classrooms, libraries and the study of Literature in English across Ghana.
"One of my dreams has always been to create a Ghanaian literary text that students can easily relate to while still engaging with one of the world's greatest playwrights.
If this play encourages even one young reader to discover Shakespeare through a familiar cultural lens, then we have achieved something meaningful," Quaye added.
Produced by Imagebureau, in partnership with April Communications and the National Theatre, Gayina's Pound of Flesh is expected to be one of the most talked-about theatrical events of the year, bringing together lovers of literature, theatre, education and African storytelling for a production that is both entertaining and intellectually engaging.
More than 400 years after Shakespeare first asked audiences to consider the price of justice, Gayina's Pound of Flesh invites Ghanaians to ask a different question:
What happens when the greatest debts we owe each other cannot be measured in money?
