A Gathering in a Better World (GIABW) is a collaboration between the Goethe Institute and the Festival Theaterformen.
It features the expertise of artists with disabilities, focusing on their perspectives and creating spaces for shared experiences from March 1 to 5 at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, in cooperation with the Centre for the Less Good Idea and the Market Theatre.
The South African Film and Television Award winner (2022) for Outstanding Person with Disability, Calvin Ratladi, was appointed curator of this international theatre project.
GIABW is an interdisciplinary collaborative project that seeks to establish a global network of artists with disabilities for whom there are hardly any structures.
It will host a five-day programme of a series of performances, screenings, workshops and a master class aimed at artists, thinkers, scholars, and practitioners interested in all-inclusive practice and performance.
“Artists living with disabilities exist everywhere, but are often isolated and less visible in the performing arts scene, with fewer professional opportunities and resources. We initiated A Gathering in a Better World with the Goethe-Institut to build connections between disabled artists internationally and support them to create their own spaces for artistic experimentation and creative exchange.
“While some disability art networks recently changed the field in the European context, the gathering focuses on non-European regions and transnational relations,” said Anna Mülter, artistic director of Festival Theaterformen.
The programme will feature live performances and conversations with seasoned artists, kicking off with a performance by Oupa Sibeko, an interdisciplinary artist whose work moves between theatrical, gallery, scholarly and other public contexts, overtly dealing with matters and politics of the body as a site of contested works.
The opening night will also premiere a new collaborative work by Calvin Ratladi, Nadine Mckenzie, Andile Vellem, Chuma Sopotela, Hlengiwe Madlala, Sello Sebotsane, Thulani Chauke, Teresa Phuti Mojela, Anathi Conjwa, Siphenati Mayekiso and Nceba Gongxeka.
“The Goethe-Institut is pleased to collaborate with Calvin Ratladi and Theaterformen on this important project.
“The endeavour to foster collaboration and connection among artists with and without disabilities and to offer a public platform to their excellent artistic work, is a vital concern of the Goethe-Institut’s work in the region,” said Dr Asma Diakité, regional head of cultural programmes at the Goethe-Institut Sub-Sahara Africa.
The Market Theatre’s artistic director, Greg Homann, added, “Having this five-day gathering of work in our theatre and spaces is part of our long-standing commitment to dismantle historic barriers of access. We are proud to be a part of this important and necessary initiative that highlights the expertise of artists living with a disability.”
This gathering is a physical extension connecting Sub-Saharan African artists living with disabilities within the framework of the project.
It is a meeting and networking opportunity and a place to access creative spaces conceptualised by artists with disabilities across different artistic disciplines for a broad audience with and without disabilities.
“The Johannesburg gathering is intended to go beyond ‘just another inclusion project’ that does not attract daily audiences and engage artistic reflections that relate to people living with disabilities,” explained Calvin.
GIABW is supported by Festival Theaterformen, Goethe-Institut, Market Theatre, The Centre for the Less Good Idea | SO Academy, Calvin Ratladi Foundation, UNMUTE Dance Company, Yellow Bunny Productions and TrialbyMedia.
For more information and the programme visit www.markettheatre.co.za
Tickets are available at Webticket.
