Repurposing Discarded Materials for Sustainable Set Design Practice In Ghana

This study explores the potential of repurposing discarded egg crates, cartons, and polythene as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials, particularly plywood, in set design practice in Ghana. Conventional materials, while long favoured, present significant challenges including excessive weight, high costs, limited portability, and environmental degradation. Through artistic exploration, this study investigates the aesthetic, functional, and economic viability of the selected repurposed materials. The findings reveal that egg crates, cartons, and polythene offer considerable advantages: they are lightweight, artistically versatile, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and adaptable for dynamic stage design. Positive feedback from collaborators and participants validated the creative and practical benefits of using repurposed materials. The study concludes that integrating repurposed materials into set design practices offers a viable solution to many of the logistical, financial, and environmental limitations associated with conventional materials. It recommends that set designers and theatre practitioners continue to explore and innovate with other discarded materials, contributing to the evolving discourse on sustainability within Ghanaian theatre practice.