William Kentridge’s 'The Head & The Load' in Joburg soon
William Kentridge is no stranger to the art scene. In April, he is bringing yet another impressive work to South Africa. Co-produced by Centre d’Art Battat, Montreal and supported by RMB and FNB, divisions of FirstRand Bank Limited, The Head & The Load will be seen for the first time on the African continent. The production will run at the Joburg Theatre from 21 April to 6 May, consist of only fourteen performances.
The Covid-19 lockdowns delayed bringing the production home, hence the anticipation is high. Especially since the production has had such success at the Tate Modern in London in 2018, followed by sold-out shows in New York, Amsterdam and Germany.
For The Head & The Load, Kentridge reunited with long-time collaborator Philip Miller, one of South Africa’s leading composers, as well as composer and music director, Thuthuka Sibisi. In addition, he also roped in choreographer and principal dancer, Gregory Maqoma from Vuyani Dance Company. Together, they have managed to create what Kentridge describes as “an interrupted musical procession.”
The story
The Head & The Load serves as an exploration of Africa’s role in the First World War. Ultimately, it illuminates the untold story of millions of black African porters and carriers who served – and in many cases died for – British, French and German battlefield forces.
The production’s name plays on the Ghanaian proverb “The head and the load are the troubles of the neck.” In essence it refers to the fact that this story and its historical significance have largely remained unexamined for a century.
Kentridge says: “The Head & The Load is about Africa and Africans in the First World War, that is to say about all the contradictions and paradoxes of colonialism that were heated and compressed by circumstances of the war. It is about historical incomprehension (and inaudibility and invisibility). The colonial logic towards the black participants could be summed up, ‘Lest their actions merit recognition, their deeds must not be recorded.’ The Head & The Load aims to recognise and record.”
The production
The Head & The Load is an exceptionally ambitious production, which runs across a purpose-built stage stretching over 50 metres along the back of the Nelson Mandela Theatre. Additionally, the wings and backstage of the reconfigured theatre become a site-specific performance space. It had to be large enough to accommodate such a monumental work. All this, while the audience takes its place directly onstage for a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience.
An ensemble cast of extraordinary singers and musicians from across the globe perform the powerful and evocative score. In the end, it offers a perfect complement to Kentridge’s imaginative work.
Furthermore, the rich and multi-layered production features an international cast of 38 performers, with a majority from South Africa. The cast includes actors like Hamilton Dlamini, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Dambuza Nqumashe and Luc De Wit, as well as Ann Masina and Joanna Dudley as vocalists. Together, William Kentridge and these talented performers vividly bring history to life through a combination of music, text, dance, film projections, mechanised sculptures and shadow play.
Learn more about The Head & The Load
A range of audience development and education initiatives will precede the Joburg Theatre performances. These include a series of workshops and public programmes at The Centre of The Less Good Idea. Ultimately, these initiatives are key to reaching diverse communities across Joburg. They will also make the performances accessible to as many people as possible from the communities where it is bound to be most meaningful. In the end, that is one of the main objectives in bringing The Head & The Load to South Africa.
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