Greta Goiris is an internationally-renowned costume designer, long-time collaborator of William Kentridge, and the mentor of the SO | Costume Academy connected to Season 7.

Goiris first began working with Kentridge in 2005 with Die Zauberflöte and has subsequently created the renowned, collaged costume designs for operas such as The Nose, Lulu, Wozzeck, as well as installations and music theatre productions Refuse the Hour, The Refusal of Time, Winterreise, Paper Music, More Sweetly Play the Dance and O Sentimental Machine. Most recently Goiris has created the costumes for over 50 performers in The Head and the Load, coming to Johannesburg in August 2021.

Goiris’ approach to costume design employs a strong use of collage and play, helping to both compliment and bring to life the inherent narratives of each character on stage. Season 7 marks the launch of the SO | Academy and sees Goiris taking on the role of mentor to six artists and aspirant costume designers as she guides them through the process of creating costumes for the various performers across the Season.

Emmanuelle Erhart is a costume designer and producer, and is the assistant to Greta Goiris for the SO | Costume Academy.

Working in the realms of theatre, dance, and opera, Erhart works to define the visual world of each character and production, working closely with directors, lighting, and set designers throughout the process of design.

Season 7 saw Erhart working with SO | Costume Academy mentor Greta Goiris to help guide and oversee the work of the Costume Academy’s mentees. Over the course of the Season’s workshops and rehearsals, Erhart placed a strong emphasis on research, collage, and play in order to help craft the materiality and unique aesthetic of each production.

Andrea van der Kuil is a designer, writer, performer, dancer. Working as both a performer and a designer for theatrical costume, van der Kuil designs for the body in motion as well as for the inherent narrative of a character on stage.

Duduzile Mathebula is an artist, fashion designer, owner of the label Dear Magic. With a background in fashion design and the arts, Mathebula approaches the process of costume and fashion design with an emphasis on both dressing the spirit and the body in motion.

Helena Uambembe is a visual artist, performer, co-founder of the Kutala Chopeto collective. With performance forming a vital part of Uambembe’s own practice, the artist frequently employs costuming and uniform in dialogue with various symbols and archival materials.

Angelina Maponya is a dancer, theatre-maker, fashion designer. With her backgrounds in theatre, movement, and fashion, Mopanya’s costume design focuses on the body in motion, as well as drawing out the inherent narrative in the human form.

Unathi Mkonto is a visual artist. With a background in architecture, Mkonto’s artistic practice frequently traverses the realms of drawing, materiality, and wearable sculpture.

Nthabiseng Malaka is a set, costume, and prop designer. Working in the realms of theatre, Malaka is no stranger to the many moving parts that help to form a staged production.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Noah Cohen
WRITER | Dave Mann
PHOTOGRAPHER | Zivanai Matangi