Thabang

A cold, blue light washes over the stage, illuminating a lone figure and setting the tone for Programme 2’s opening performance.

Written by Katleho "Katt" Sekhosana and performed by Princess Tshabangu and Sekhosana, Thabang is a solid and emotive work. Sekhosana moves about the stage through long, languorous and somewhat restrained movements, offset by Tshabangu’s vocals which, manipulated ever so slightly with a reverb effect, oscillate between low grunts and shrill cries. The effect of these two on stage is disquieting before it is enthralling. When Sekhosana eventually speaks, it is like being broken out of a trance.

What follows is an internal monologue made public. Heritage, lineage, loneliness and longing are the palpable thoughts and emotions filling up the stage now, all communicated by Sekhosana’s distressed use of the body and voice, and Tshabangu’s quiet, but steadfast presence throughout – both as a conflicting voice and an accompanying thought.

Throughout it all, the presence of blue – sometimes desperate, other times feverish or flirting with the ethereal – is a vast emotional canvas in the capable hands of Tshabangu and Sekhosana.

WRITTEN BY | Katleho "Katt" Sekhosana
DRAMATURGY BY | Themba Mkhoma
PERFORMED BY | Katleho Sekhosana | Princess Tshabangu
MUSIC | Hamba by Katleho Sekhosana & Simphiwe Ntshingila

WRITER | Dave Mann
VIDEO ENGINEER & EDITOR | Noah Cohen
STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER | Nina Lieska