Pepper’s Ghost at the Centre for the Less Good Idea – The Centre for the Less Good Idea

Keys to a Great Poetic Game – Photo by Zivanai Matangi

Out Post of Progress – Photo by Zivanai Matangi

How does text perform? What would happen were we to isolate and expand upon the rhythm or cadence of a particular piece of prose? Books, poems, court transcripts, Wikipedia entries, songs, commission reports and more serve as points of departure for Season 7 of The Centre for the Less Good Idea. In a time where our physical ability to be with one another has been restricted, this online programme merges performance, installation, and free-flowing physical experimentation, filmed at the Centre. The Pepper’s Ghost is a shrewd optical illusion disguised as a hologram, a mirror, or a plain sheet of glass. Coupled with hi-resolution video filming and editing technology, as well as projection and live performance, the Pepper’s Ghost allows for the absurd meeting of analogue and digital technologies to put forward a theatrical experience that draws on the power of illusion and distorted or fabricated ways of seeing. From a mystery creature from the mind of Franz Kafka, an avant-garde verse drama by a Soviet playwright, to an experimental take on a Shakespearean soliloquy, these are some of the moments that occupy the world of the Pepper’s Ghost.

PROGRAMME
Live lecture-performance in Pepper’s Ghost | William Kentridge, Phala O Phala & Nhlanhla Mahlangu
Cinematography by | Duško Marović SASC

ODRADEK
Adapted from | Franz Kafka’s The Cares of a Family Man
Performed by | Ameera Patel & Frances Slabolepszy
Music by | Clare Loveday & Bongile Lecoge-Zulu
Cinematography by | Duško Marović SASC
Video Editing & Compositing by | Žana Marović

MAYAKOVSKY: THE TRAGEDY
Text from | Vladimir Mayakovsky
Conceptualised & Directed by | William Kentridge Performed by | Katlego KayGee Letsholonyana
Cinematography by | Duško Marović SASC
Video Editing & Compositing by | Janus Fouché

SPACTRAL
Text from | William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Performed by | Thami Majela, Kaldi Makutike & Michael Mazibuko
Cinematography by | Duško Marović SASC
Video Editing & Compositing by | Žana Marović

AN OUTPOST OF PROGRESS
Written by | Joseph Conrad
Performed by | Neil McCarthy, Antony Coleman & Bongile Lecoge-Zulu
Cinematography by | Duško Marović SASC
Video Editing & Compositing by | Žana Marović

TEA & BAE
Conceptualised, Directed & Performed by | Molebogeng Phiri & Kaldi Makutike.
Cinematography by | Duško Marović SASC

PRODUCTION FOR THE CENTRE
Season 7 curators | Phala Ookeditse Phala & William Kentridge
Animateur for the Centre | Phala Ookeditse Phala
Co-director for the Centre | Bronwyn Lace

Editor & Director of Photography | Noah Cohen

Production Manager | Shruthi Nair
Administrator & Stage Manager | Dimakatso Motholo
Housekeeping & Space Manager | Gracious Dube

PRODUCTION FOR THE ONLINE WORK
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Duško Marović, SASC

CAMERA OPERATORS
Noah Cohen
Bukhosibakhe Kelvin Khoza

LIGHTING DESIGN
Wesley France

LIGHTING & LIGHTING OPERATORS
Matthews Phala

Themba Mthimkulu

Rendani Gelebe
Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd

SOUND ENGINEERS
Kyle Leist

Izak Johannes Schoombie

Zain Vally

Gavan Eckhart

SoulFire Studio (Pty) Ltd

EDITORS
Noah Cohen
Janus Fouché

Žana Marović
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Zivanai Matangi

Stella Olivier

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
Academy manager | Dimakatso Motholo

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

Diego Sillands

WRITER
Dave Mann

Special thanks: Linda Leibowitz, Natalie Dembo, Anne McIlleron, Anne Blom, Joy Lowden, Chris-Waldo de Wet, Diego Sillands, Jacques van Staden and Joey Metshiombo