The Centre for the Less Good Idea is an interdisciplinary incubator space for the arts based in Maboneng, Johannesburg

SEASON 7 | Curatorial statement

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic The Centre shifted the physical performances of Season 7 from April 2020 to September 2021.

Season 7 was co-curated by draftsman, performer, filmmaker and founder of The Centre for the Less Good Idea, William Kentridge, and actor, theatre-maker, director and Animateur for The Centre, Phala Ookeditse Phala.

The below curatorial statement by Kentridge and Phala outlines the two central provocations that informed the performances, films and installations of Season 7.

PROVOCATION 1 | WHAT OF TEXT?

What are the ways of transforming a text designed to be read, into a performance on stage? Is it necessary to make this change (of text to performance)? Is there anything to be gained in this process?

These are not questions we asked ourselves. Rather we said, ‘Let this be a provocation, let us see what emerges.’ The 40 or so performances, films, and installations of Season 7 are the result. Many of the participants in the Season (about 60) took the provocation and have made pieces based on writing by Joseph Conrad, Ben Okri, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Antjie Krog, Ferdinand Oyono, Franz Kafka and about 16 others. As with all of the previous Seasons, we have privileged the fragment, the short epic, finding new ways of thinking and making rather than feeling the need to make conventional 90-minute pieces of theatre, although in this Season we also look at the long form: a two hour performance of Houseboy, the novel by Cameroonian writer Ferdinand Oyono.

Many participants used existing texts, but several pieces were developed that started with a close contact with the text and subsequently found their own language. Owing to the process of finding the less good idea, there are pieces without any words and some in which texts become music or movement.

We have had three preparatory workshops for the Season, in which ideas were tested (always on the stage), developed, abandoned, started again and rehearsed. We will discover by the end of the Season what they add up to, but we are certain that with the remarkable participants in this Season, many things both memorable and revelatory have been found.

PROVOCATION 2 | PEPPER’S GHOST

Pepper’s Ghost was a 19th century theatrical illusion technique that used a half-silvered mirror. It is named after John Henry Pepper who popularised it in 1862. The technique allows things to be seen behind the mirror (if they were lit), and images in front of the mirror to be reflected (if they were lit). We set up a basic structure in the 2nd Space – a table, a mirror, a projector, lights – and invited the participants to explore what this simple technique offered. It was a discovery for all of us, curators as well as actors, artists, and directors. In the end, eight projects were made in our ghost box. But the discoveries and experimentation here are just the beginning. It is planned to have an academy for Pepper’s Ghost later in the year.

This is a large and long programme, but we think it will reward several journeys downtown to the Centre for the Less Good Idea. This is the first Season without Bronwyn Lace at the head as Animateur. Lace remains in close contact with the Centre, and her role is now taken up by Phala Ookeditse Phala. During her time in Johannesburg at the Centre, Bronwyn separated her personal artwork from the projects at the Centre. We are delighted in this Season to welcome her as a participant, with contributions to the Pepper’s Ghost and an installation of her own work in the Centre’s original performance space.

In addition to the work in the two Centre spaces, there will be work upstairs in the Events space, and in the W. Kentridge Studio.

PRODUCTION FOR THE CENTRE

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Zivanai Matangi
Stella Olivier

EDITORS
Noah Cohen
Janus Fouché
Žana Marović

COSTUMES & PROPS
SO Academy Mentor | Greta Goiris
SO Academy Assistant | Emmanuelle Erhart
SO Academy Mentees | Andrea van der Kuil, Duduzile Mathebula, Helena Uambembe, Angelinah Maponya, Unathi Mkonto & Nthabiseng Malaka
SO Academy Manager | Dimakatso Motholo

SOUND ENGINEERS
Zain Vally
SoulFire Studios: Gavan Eckhart

CINEMATOGRAPHERS
Noah Cohen
Kutlwano Makgalemele
Duško Marović SASC

JUNIOR CINEMATOGRAPHER
Bukhosibakhe Kelvin Khosa

PEPPER’S GHOST STAGE DESIGN & BUILD
Wesley France
Chris-Waldo de Wet
Jacques van Staden
Diego Sillands

PROGRAMME DESIGN
www.prinsdesign.co.za

WRITER
David Mann

PUBLICITY
Azania Public
POPArt Productions

FRONT OF HOUSE
POPArt Productions
Hayleigh Evans
Dintshitile Mashile
Khanyisile Zwane
Rethabile Headbush
Emil Lars
Ncumisa Ndimeni

With The Market Theatre Lab 2nd Year Students: Kefenste Mokoena, Lungile Mabaso, Zevangeli Mpofu, Onakho Hlanti, Omolemo Magabe, Nomcebo Khonoti, Mthobisi Gasa, Aviwe Dasha, Lerato Ndlovu, Nhlanhla Sadiki, Muzi Trust, Buntu Ceza & Thato Mosebi

LIGHTING DESIGNER
Wesley France

LIGHTING TECHNICIANS & OPERATORS
Matthews Phala
Themba Mthimkulu
Bongani Mpofu

LIGHTING GEAR SUPPLIER
Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd

STAGING SUPPLIER
Setsational

SOUND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER
SoulFire Studio (Pty) Ltd

Special thanks: Linda Leibowitz, Natalie Dembo, Anne McIlleron, Anne Blom, Joy Lowdon, Chris-Waldo de Wet, Jacques van Staden, Joey Netshiombo & Diego Sillands