2ndary REVISIONS is a series of five-minute videos about process. In this series we invite local and international artists, writers, choreographers, musicians and theatre-makers to offer an insight into the different processes, practices and strategies used within their artistic practice.

Initiated in 2022, the series hopes to provide deep insights about artistic process in a short and accessible format and is one of a range of offerings presented by SO | The Academy for the Less Good Idea, that tease out how we learn about, and through, arts practice.

PRODUCTION FOR THE CENTRE (2022)

ANIMATEUR | Phala O. Phala
DIRECTOR | Bronwyn Lace
MOMENTEUR FOR THE SO ACADEMY | Athena Mazarakis
DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITOR | Noah Cohen
SOUND DESIGNER & ENGINEER | Zain Vally
ADMINISTRATOR & STAGE MANAGER | Dimakatso Motholo
SPACE MANAGER AND COSTUMES & PROPS ASSISTANT | Gracious Dube
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS LIAISON | Hayleigh Evans
PHOTOGRAPHER | Zivanai Matangi
LIVESTREAM ENGINEER | Chris-Waldo de Wet
JUNIOR CINEMATOGRAPHER | Bukhosibakhe Kelvin Khoza
LIGHTING DESIGNER | Wesley France
LIGHTING ENGINEER | Matthews Phala
LIGHTING ASSISTANT | Bongani Mpofu
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT | Gearhouse Split Beam (Pty) Ltd
SOUND ENGINEERING | Soulfire Studios
FRONT OF HOUSE | POPArt Productions
PROCESS WRITER | David Mann
WEBSITE & UPLOADS MANAGER | Niamh Walsh-Vorster

Special thanks:
Linda Leibowitz
Natalie Dembo
Anne McIlleron
Anne Blom
Taryn Buccellato
Joy Woolcott
Chris-Waldo de Wet
Jacques van Staden
Joey Netshiombo
Diego Sillands
Thandi Mzizi Nkabinde

William Kentridge is a draughtsman, performer and filmmaker, as well as the founder of The Centre for the Less Good Idea.

The first instalment of the 2ndary REVISIONS series is a video by Kentridge that looks at how collage can be used as an exercise in pursuing the incidental and the periphery, and how embracing assemblage, intuition and the fragmentary can help lead us to that which we do not expect.

CREDITS:

CINEMATOGRAPHER & EDITOR | Joshua Trappler

Nhlanhla Mahlangu is an award-winning composer, vocalist, theatre-maker, dancer, educator and creative collaborator at the Centre for the Less Good Idea. He is a graduate of Moving Into Dance Mophatong and has over 20 years of experience in professional performance and administration in theatre, dance, dance theatre and dance education.

The second instalment of 2ndary REVISIONS sees Mahlangu taking viewers through his unique approach to composition which values and utilises the experiences of each artist as the essential building blocks for making music. In Mahlangu’s words: “You are composed of all of the people who make you.”

CREDITS:

PERFORMERS | Sbusiso Shozi, Xolisile Bongwana & Semangele Mongatane

Jane Taylor is the epitome of theatre performance meets academic theory. South Africa’s political, social and cultural transformation has inspired both her academic and artistic interests. Her play ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’ in collaboration with William Kentridge, has gained phenomenal international recognition and is just one of many examples of her meticulous ability to bring the art of puppetry in conversation with the human subject. She has written extensively on the history of the human subject and the limits and intersection of its performativity.

For the third installment of the 2ndary REVISIONS series, Taylor explores how archives and history can be animated through the arts. She likens her own practice to that of frottage, a relentless scratching and agitating at the surface of the archive until meaning and, eventually, surprise occur. Taylor demonstrates this process with an example of her research on Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.

CREDITS:

PERFORMERS | Billy Langa, Tony Bonani Miyambo & Jemma Kahn
CINEMATOGRAPHER | Matt Griffiths

The internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Dada Masilo was born and raised in Johannesburg and began her formal training at The Dance Factory at the age of 11. After matriculating from The National School of the Arts, she went to train at Jazzart in Cape Town for one year. She was then accepted as a student at the Performing Arts Research and Training Studios in Brussels. In 2008, she was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance. Masilo’s choreographic works – in which she also performs – have toured extensively on the international circuit and have earned her numerous high profile awards, including the Prince Claus Next Generation Award (2018) and The UK Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Modern Performance in the title role as Giselle (2020).

For the fourth instalment of the 2ndary REVISIONS series, Masilo speaks about her method of blending contemporary and Setswana dance in The Sacrifice and gives us insight into to her choreographic processes and the ways in which she grapples with content and structure.

CREDITS:

CHOREOGRAPHER | Dada Masilo
COMPOSERS & MUSICIANS | Ann Masina, Leroy Mapholo, Tlale Makhene & Nathi Shongwe
DANCERS | Dada Masilo, Refiloe Mogoje, Sinazo Bokolo, Thandiwe Mqokeli, Lwando Dutyulwa, Thuso Lobeko, Songezo Mcilizeli, Steven Mokone, Lebo Seodigeng & Tshepo Zasekhaya

Employing a dynamic and exciting combination of visual comedy, sophisticated political satire, clowning, physical theatre, mime and an explosive performance style, the works of Andrew Buckland have become synonymous with provocative, entertaining and stimulating theatre both in South Africa and internationally. A principal feature of the style of Buckland’s work, besides its comedy, is its economy of production and a unique attitude to the relation between word and gesture. Buckland has a long history as a performance educator. He played a key role in the Drama Department of the University Currently Known as Rhodes between 1992 and 2017 when he retired and was named Associate Professor Emeritus.

For the fifth installment of the 2ndary REVISIONS series, Buckland distills his artistic process into five interwoven creative threads.

The 12 participants of the workshop featured in this film are Thabo Rapoo, Smangaliso Ngwenya, Phuti Chokwe, Philangezwi Nxumalo, Paballo Phiri, Obett Motaung, Soyiso Ndaba, Mlindeli Zondi, Kaldi Makutike, Campbell Meas, Buhle Mazibuko and Nwabisa Mbambo.

Mandla Mbothwe is a theatre-maker, researcher, director and educator. He is also the co-curator of The Centre’s Season 9 (26 October – 30 October 2022).

For the sixth installment of The Centre for the Less Good Idea’s 2ndary REVISIONS series Mbothwe speaks about the centrality of dreams and life elements in his creative process and approach to theatre-making.

The performers featured in this film are Xolisile Bongwana, Anathi Conjwa, Sibahle Mangena, Tony Miyambo and Mphumzi Nontshinga.