From 4 to 6 April 2024, The Centre for the Less Good Idea hosted the first iteration of Collations, inviting a gathering of writers and performers in the realms of theatre to explore and expand upon the medium of the radio play by staging a series of Visual Radio Plays for a live audience.

Central to this exploration was the invitation to Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist Wole Soyinka to engage in The Centre’s processes.

A READING OF THE BACCHAE OF EURIPIDES

The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite is an adaptation by Wole Soyinka of the ancient Greek tragedy The Bacchae by Euripides. Soyinka wrote the play during his exile in Britain.

Opening the COLLATIONS programme is a reading of Soyinka’s adaptation by various performers using live music and foley.

CREDITS:

WRITER | Wole Soyinka
PERFORMERS | Neo Muyanga, Balindile ka Ngcobo, Vanessa Cooke, Qondiswa James, Daniel Stompie Selibe, Tony Miyambo, William Harding, Simphiwe Bonongo, Katlego Letsholonyana & Micca Manganye

IN CONVERSATION | SOYINKA, KENTRIDGE & MUYANGA

Central to the Collations | On Air: Visual Radio Plays programme is an In Conversation between Wole Soyinka and founder of The Centre, William Kentridge, moderated by Neo Muyanga. Sonyinka’s focus on Pan-Africanism in his practice, as well as the idea of African Tragedy in his work, are among the points of conversation. They also discuss a forthcoming publication by Soyinka, which features artworks by Kentridge.

CREDITS:

MODERATOR | Neo Muyanga
DISCUSSANTS | Wole Soyinka & William Kentridge

NOTEBOOK OF A LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO A HILLBROW NIGHT

Notebook of a long day’s journey into a Hillbrow night is a production by the Windybrow Arts Centre, in collaboration with The Centre for the Less Good Idea, that emerges from a central question: What would Aimé Césaire's classic anticolonial long poem Notebook of a Return to the Native Land sound like if it were written today, by teenagers living in Hillbrow?

CREDITS:

MENTORS & DIRECTORS | Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Sibahle Mangena, Stacy Hardy, Lesego Rampolokeng, Tamara Guhrs, Khethukuthula Jele, Pule kaJanolintji et al.
WINDYBROW TEENAGERS | Khethiwe Mvelase, Modiegi Lefao, Zandile Dube, Reneilwe Leopeng, Thabang Matsaung, Caleb Nyanguila, Thandeka Masango, Jenoc Kalongo, Lubanzadio Mpova, Natasha Dube, Lesley Sibanda, Sonqoba Mbatha, Sandiso Mbatha, Rethabile Mabeleng, Lethu Ndlovu, Hlengiwe Dube, Phumudzo Lamboni, Shirley Vundla, Simphiwe Ximba, Maletsema Seiape, Michael Sithole, Unathi Ndlovu, Minenhle Masina, Lesedi Udeh, Inathi Mdyuba, Thandeka Mauhura, Ofenste Thako, Mbalenhle Ncube, Lethabo Mkhize, Busisiwe Mbadiwe & Nqobile MlamboCreated by The Windybrow Arts Centre and the Wits Creative Writing Department, with support from The Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago, Institut Français d'Afrique du Sud and The Centre for the Less Good Idea.