Calvin Ratladi
A Hole in Waiting
Pretoria
Two bodies on a dimly-lit stage, one floating on the back of the other. They move carefully, step by step, breath by breath. Luminous objects made of woven straw hang from the ceiling; Basotho hats that have been converted into lamps. They are reminiscent of the miners in South Africa to whom this moving evening is dedicated.
«A Hole in Waiting» takes us into the depths of the South African mining industry, which is characterised by colonial exploitation and a spiral of violence against the bodies of Black workers. The race for raw materials, which significantly financed the apartheid regime, caused the premature death of countless workers over generations. To this day, workers lose their lives in mining accidents or during strikes against poor working conditions. Their fates are pushed into oblivion. Director and actor Calvin Ratladi comes from a family of miners himself and is the first not to work in this industry. Together with musician Xolisile Bongwana, he speaks and sings against the recurring colonial violence and forgetting. «We are not here to cry until there are no more tears left,» says Calvin Ratladi, referring to the power that comes from shared grief and enables resistance. (af)
Simple words
The play tells the story of Black people who work in the mines in South Africa.
They are exploited there and get paid little money.
Many rich countries benefit from this, including Switzerland.
Many people in the mines die early because the work is dangerous.
Conditions are also bad.
Director Calvin Ratladi also comes from a family of miners.
He wants to remember the dead and make us not forget them.
Artistic direction and cast
| Konzept & Regie | Calvin Ratladi |
|---|---|
| Mit | Calvin Ratladi, Xolisile Bongwana |
| Komposition | Xolisile Bongwana |
| Bühne & Kostüme | Nthabiseng Malaka |
| Licht | Guy Nelson |
| Produktionsleitung & Bühnenmanagement | Dimakatso Motholo |
| Foto | Zivanai Matangi |
Production
| Produktion | The Centre for the Less Good Idea |
|---|---|
| Koproduktion | Teatre Lliure, Barcelona |
| Unterstützung | The Centre for the Less Good Idea (Johannesburg), Teatre Lliure (Barcelona), Festival Theaterformen (Braunschweig) |
| Premiere | März 2022, Teatre Lliure (Barcelona) |
Rote Fabrik, Fabriktheater
Performance & Music. Extracivism & Exploitation
Nominated for the ZKB Patronage Prize
Duration
1 hrs.
Language
English
Surtitles
German
Age
14 years plus
An inclusive event
Stammtisch
Sun 18 Aug, 21:00
Cooperation
An event in cooperation with IG Rote Fabrik
Dates
shows from today- Fr 16.08. 21:00 - 22:00 CHF 35.–/20.–
- Sa 17.08. 21:00 - 22:00 CHF 35.–/20.–
- Su 18.08. 18:00 - 19:00 CHF 35.–/20.–