Named after John Henry Pepper who popularised it in 1862, the Pepper’s Ghost is a 19th-century theatrical illusion technique that uses a half-silvered mirror. The technique allows things to be seen behind the mirror (if they are lit), and images in front of the mirror to be reflected (if they are lit). With the introduction of video compositing and live projection, new illusory performative and narrative techniques become possible.

In 2019 and early 2020, during the first round of ideation workshops for its 7th Season, The Centre set up a basic structure in the 2nd Space – a table, a mirror, a projector, lights – and invited the participants of Season 7 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,” said co-founder of The Centre and Season 7 co-curator, William Kentridge.

From 19 to 22 July, SO | The Academy for the Less Good Idea continued its process of experimenting with the possibilities of the Pepper’s Ghost through a workshop with seven participants at The Centre for the Less Good Idea, held in the 2nd Space. Led by performer, musician, writer, educator and frequent collaborator of The Centre, Bongile Gorata Lecoge-Zulu, the workshop made use of the Pepper’s Ghost mechanism as a device for thinking through, among other things, performance, storytelling and physicality in the short-form.

CREDITS:

Bongile Gorata Lecoge-Zulu works across the disciplines of music and theatre education, facilitation, performance, writing and curation. As an artist involved in experimental and collaborative endeavours where she investigates the possibilities of merging music with other art forms and creative methodologies, much of her work follows a multidisciplinary trajectory, seeing her occupy diverse artistic roles. Similarly, the possibilities of translation across disciplines informs much of her practice.

The participants of the Pepper’s Ghost Academy/Workshop were Kaldi Makutike, Phillip Dikotla, Nthabiseng Malaka, Teresa Phuti Mojela, Phumlani Mndebele, Neil McCarthy and Thami Majela.

Athena Mazarakis is the Momenteur for the SO Academy

PHOTOGRAPHER | Zivanai Matangi