Renowned playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions, Uncle Ebo Whyte, has shed light on why love remains the dominant theme in most of his plays and titles, stressing that relationships are the ultimate measure of a fulfilling life.
Speaking on The Career Trail programme, he explained that while he often begins with a working title, the final choice is usually the outcome of group brainstorming.
“I work with a working title when I’m writing, but then the group can override it. Through a process of brainstorming, they can decide we think this title works better for the play, and that becomes the title,” he said.
According to him, love lies are at the heart of these choices.
“Most of them are love-scented, emotion-scented, because I love love. In my mind, I am a love ‘aplanke’. I love a good love story,” he highlighted.
Uncle Ebo Whyte emphasised that while formal education equips people with many skills, the most important of all, building and sustaining relationships, is often neglected.
“We go to school to learn everything: how to cook, how to sew, how to drive, even how to handle a camera. But none of those things impact our lives as fundamentally as our love relationships,” he explained. “You can have all the degrees, you can even be President, but if your love life, your relationship with yourself, your spouse, your children, is not working, forget it. You are a miserable person,” he added.
The veteran playwright, who has been married for over four decades, said his personal journey has shaped this philosophy.
“I’ve been married for 41 years. I’ve learned a few things, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But I want my mistakes to be useful. If you can share your mistakes with people and they learn from them and not repeat them, then your mistakes have become useful,” he underscored.
For him, theatre is not just entertainment but also a platform to pass on lessons about love, relationships, and self-discovery.
“There’s no school for love, yet it’s the one thing that can make or break your life. That’s why I centre my plays on love, to share insights that will help people build better relationships,” he stressed.
Uncle Ebo Whyte believes this approach has resonated deeply with audiences, helping many navigate the complexities of love and family through the power of storytelling.