Directing Theatre in COVID-19 Times—The Impact on South African Culture

Tebere Arts Foundation presented the conversation Directing Theatre in COVID-19 Times—The Impact on South African Culture with The Stories Women Carry: Creative Practice of African Women from the Continent livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 3 May 2021 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 8 p.m. EAT (Nairobi, UTC +3).

How has the theatre-making landscape shifted in South Africa since COVID-19? Who are some of the key players in the industry? What does South Africa’s relationship look like with the West when it comes to the arts? What are some of the funding structures?

Guest: Princess Mhlongo, South Africa
Princess Rose Zinzi Mhlongo was born in Emalahleni Mpumalanga, South Africa. She is the third of four children raised by her mother (a professional nurse) and father (a teacher) in a small mining town. In high school, she joined the community youth theatre that traveled every year to the National Arts Festival to present a show and also watched carefully selected productions that exposed the diverse culture of a post-apartheid nation. She then obtained her BA in Drama at the Tshwane University of Technology. Upon directing her debut production, Princess was named the 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year. Her career journey was documented in a 13-part documentary/reality show following her path as a young black female director. Princess’ work has toured around the world, receiving numerous nominations and awards. For seven years, she ran an independent performance space called The Plat4orm, attending to the need to develop new uncensored work in the industry. The Plat4orm develops various projects for social change as a non-profit company, using the arts as a tool of communication. Currently, Princess serves as part of a research team of African creatives formed by The Goethe Institute, mapping cultural practices that develop through migration and mobility in North and Southern Africa.

“The Stories Women Carry: Creative Practice of African Women from the Continent”
The Stories Women Carry is a Web Series that highlights the work of African women in different fields of theatre on the continent. The 6-episode season features leading writers, poets, directors, producers and interdisciplinary theatre-makers who will share their artistic practices and methodologies. There is an increase in conversations about non-Western methods of theatre-making across the continent and beyond. In the spirit of uncovering an African dramaturgy and its application in various fields of theatre from the creation of new work to arts management, these leading practitioners from Uganda and Kenya will share their insights in each episode.

Each episode will invite one female guest, or a collective to speak on a specific topic, related to their personal practice. American Sign Language and Kenyan Sign Language interpretation will be available for this series.

About HowlRound TV
HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by the nonprofit HowlRound. HowlRound TV is a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world's performing arts and cultural fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Participate in a community of peer organizations revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field by becoming a producer and co-producing with us. Learn more by going to our participate page. For any other queries, email [email protected], or call Vijay Mathew at +1 917.686.3185 Signal/WhatsApp. View the video archive of past events.