OVERTURE

As an introduction to the programme of short performances at The Centre and on the scaffolding, sessional trombonist and composer for film and television music, and regular collaborator of William Kentridge, Dan Selsick opened the evening. Selsick’s improvisational trombone both draws the performers onto the scaffold and has them responding and building to movement and music throughout. The performers are Xolisile Bongwana, Thabang Mkhwanazi, Simphiwe Bonongo, Sbusiso Shozi, Penwell Langa, Gregory K. Mabusela, Teresa Phuti Mojela, and Thandazile Sonia Radebe.

PERFORMERS | Dan Selsick, Xolisile Bongwana, Thabang Mkhwanazi, Simphiwe Bonongo, Sbusiso Shozi, Penwell Langa, Gregory K. Mabusela, Teresa Phuti Mojela & Thandazile Sonia Radebe
CINEMATOGRAPHER | Kutlwano Makgalemele
ASSISTANT CINEMATOGRAPHER | Chris Soal

FILM EDITOR | Noah Cohen
LIGHTING DESIGNERS | Mandla Mtshali & Matthews Phala
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT | Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd
SOUND ENGINEERS | Soulfire Studios: Gavan Eckhart, Ruby Friedman & Jacques Sibanda
PROP, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER | Bake und Backen: Noluthando Lobese
STAGE DESIGNERS | UrbanWorks Architecture & Urbanism: Thireshen Govender & Izak Potgieter
CONSTRUCTION | Estee Automation
STAGE MANAGER | Lungelo Winnet Shange

A ZAMBIAN SPACE ODYSSEY

For Season 2, Zambian theatre maker and academic Mwenya B. Kabwe brought with her a text she was writing based on the true story of Edward Makuka Nkoloso, a member of the Zambian resistance movement and the founder of the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy. The work was developed and performed within the scaffold, and served as a proposal towards a larger production.

Actor and vocalist Penwell Langa took on the role of Edward Makuka Nkoloso and was joined by Xolisile Bongwana, Thabang Mkhwanazi, Simphiwe Bonongo, Sbusiso Shozi, Gregory K. Mabusela, Teresa Phuti Mojela, and Thandazile Sonia Radebe.

WRITER & DIRECTOR | Mwenya Kabwe

PERFORMERS | Penwell Langa, Xolisile Bongwana, Thabang Mkhwanazi, Simphiwe Bonongo, Sbusiso Shozi, Gregory K. Mabusela, Lulu Mlangeni, Teresa Phuti Mojela & Thandazile Sonia Radebe
CINEMATOGRAPHER | Kutlwano Makgalemele
ASSISTANT CINEMATOGRAPHER | Chris Soal

FILM EDITOR | Noah Cohen
LIGHTING DESIGNERS | Mandla Mtshali & Matthews Phala
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT | Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd
SOUND ENGINEERS | Soulfire Studios: Gavan Eckhart, Ruby Friedman & Jacques Sibanda
PROP, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER | Bake und Backen: Noluthando Lobese
STAGE DESIGNERS | UrbanWorks Architecture & Urbanism: Thireshen Govender & Izak Potgieter
CONSTRUCTION | Estee Automation
STAGE MANAGER | Lungelo Winnet Shange

SPLASH

Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Lulu Mlangeni teamed up with artist and founder of The Centre, William Kentridge; core-curator Tegan Bristow who developed the software for this piece; musicians Waldo Alexander and Dan Selsick; and editor and operator Janus Fouché. Using visuals by Kentridge and motion tracking software, the team worked with cause and effect. Mlangeni’s movements are tracked and in turn determine the movement of the projected visuals, the musicians improvise and respond to the pace and motion of both Mlangeni’s body and the projections themselves. Fouché operates and manipulates the software and visuals in real time, generating a responsive loop of activity.

ENYANGENI

Performer, teacher, director, composer, and core-curator for Season 2, Nhlanhla Mahlangu responded to and activated the scaffolding stage by developing a new piece with associate director Gerard Bester and the performers they invited into the season. In Zulu, ‘Enyangeni’ can be understood as ‘ascending’, and refers to the moon. Mahlangu composed the music for the piece collaboratively with performers, Xolisile Bongwana, Thabang Mkhwanazi, Simphiwe Bonongo, Sbusiso Shozi, Penwell Langa, Gregory K. Mabusela, Lulu Mlangeni, Teresa Phuti Mojela, and Thandazile Sonia Radebe. This narrative, movement, sonic, and emotional journey began with the team sharing and building upon memories of playground and street songs from their childhoods.

PERFORMERS | Xolisile Bongwana, Thabang Mkhwanazi, Simphiwe Bonongo, Sbusiso Shozi, Penwell Langa, Gregory K. Mabusela, Lulu Mlangeni, Teresa Phuti Mojela & Thandazile Sonia Radebe
DIRECTOR | Nhlanhla Mahlangu
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | Gerard Bester
CINEMATOGRAPHER | Kutlwano Makgalemele
ASSISTANT CINEMATOGRAPHER | Chris Soal
FILM EDITOR | Noah Cohen
LIGHTING DESIGNERS | Mandla Mtshali & Matthews Phala
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT | Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd
SOUND ENGINEERS | Soulfire Studios: Gavan Eckhart, Ruby Friedman & Jacques Sibanda
PROP, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER | Bake und Backen: Noluthando Lobese
STAGE DESIGNERS | UrbanWorks Architecture & Urbanism: Thireshen Govender & Izak Potgieter
CONSTRUCTION | Estee Automation
STAGE MANAGER | Lungelo Winnet Shange

JACARANDA TIME

Interactive digital-media artist, professor, and core-curator for Season 2, Tegan Bristow teamed up with writer and theatre maker Mwenya Kabwe, composer Cameron Louis Harris, dancer Thandazile Sonia Radebe and poet/performer Namatshego Kelebogile Khutsoane to create this interactive performance piece. In the piece, digital jacaranda leaves fall and respond to Radebe and Khutsoane’s movements. Khutsoane’s striking voice delivers Kabwe’s poetic script (inspired by ‘Changing Changing’ by Aracelis Girmay) while Harris’ interactive sound composition responds to, and simultaneously determines the flow of the work.

OUT

Session violinist and regular collaborator of William Kentridge, Waldo Alexander, produced this 15 minute experimental sound journey for Season 2. The solo performance is a complex and considered foray into an experimental soundscape.

MUSICIAN | Waldo Alexander

CINEMATOGRAPHER | Kutlwano Makgalemele
ASSISTANT CINEMATOGRAPHER | Chris Soal

FILM EDITOR | Noah Cohen
LIGHTING DESIGNERS | Mandla Mtshali & Matthews Phala
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT | Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd
SOUND ENGINEERS | Soulfire Studios: Gavan Eckhart, Ruby Friedman & Jacques Sibanda
PROP, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER | Bake und Backen: Noluthando Lobese
STAGE DESIGNERS | UrbanWorks Architecture & Urbanism: Thireshen Govender & Izak Potgieter
CONSTRUCTION | Estee Automation
STAGE MANAGER | Lungelo Winnet Shange