Wasted Land

Ntando Cele (Bern) / Artists in Residence
“Wasted Land” imagines an apocalyptic scenario at the end of all disasters and all woke discourses. In a poetical choric and musical multimedia performance of biting irony and absurd humour, Ntando Cele raises the question of possible survival strategies, explicitly from her experience as a Black woman in Western Europe.

Taking the fast fashion industry and its insane production processes as an example, “Wasted Land” is set in a near, dystopic future: in a world that is equally afflicted by climate change as by various forms of oppression and racism. In a society paralysed between “feel good”-ecology and mountains of clothing that have turned into toxic waste, “Wasted Land” tries out a de-centred gaze, a shift from the perspective of a female artist from South Africa. With this dystopian vision, Ntando Cele invites us to think about the potential for a true social transformation. “Wasted Land” draws on indigenous knowledge with the aim of challenging preconceived notions and including untapped sources in a search for potential solutions. The piece is a solo performance which uses an a cappella choir and electronic music to provoke an unconventional analysis.

“‘Wasted Land’” is a way of untangling my perception and my understanding of the climate crisis, and to ask what it triggers in me as a colonialized body living with the generational consequences of inequality. Since Black and Brown people are still excluded from the dominant debate about the future of humankind, what would the future be like without them? What if societies were to acknowledge and accept a true social transformation where all forms of injustice were immediately amended? I respond to the desperation and the defeatism towards catastrophes that so often goes hand in hand with ecological discourse with a little bit of sarcastic humour and humility.” Ntando Cele

Ntando Cele was born in Durban, South Africa, and lives in Bern. She studied theatre in Durban and Amsterdam. Her performances often counter everyday racism with humour and a radical attitude; they play on the boundaries between theatre, video installation, concert and performance. Her most recent work at Residenz was “SPAfrica”, which she produced together with Julian Hetzel. For her performance "SPAfrica”, she received the 2023 Swiss Culture Award for Performing Art.
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Leipzig-Premiere: 10.10.2024
Residenz (Spinnerei)

Performance in English with German subtitles


Dates

https://www.schauspiel-leipzig.de Schauspiel Leipzig Bosestraße 1, 04109 Leipzig
Thu, 10.10. 20:00
Leipzig premiere
Residenz
https://www.schauspiel-leipzig.de Schauspiel Leipzig Bosestraße 1, 04109 Leipzig
Fri, 11.10. 20:00
Residenz
https://www.schauspiel-leipzig.de Schauspiel Leipzig Bosestraße 1, 04109 Leipzig
Sat, 12.10. 20:00
Residenz

Cast

Ntando Cele, Brandy Butler, Françoise Gautier, Steffi Lobréau

Team

Concept and directing: Ntando Cele
Composition & Musical direction: Wael Sami Elkholy
Costume design: Rudolf Jost
Artistic and technical collaboration: Sandro Griesser
Dramaturgical advice: Raphael Urweider, Davide-Christelle Sanvee, Payal Parekh
Directing assistent: Joëlle Gbeassor
Stage master: Véronique Kespi
Sound: Janyves Coïc
Light design: Demian Jakob, Jean-Baptiste Boutte
Video: Nicolas Gerlier
Props: Mathieu Dorsaz
Costume design workshop: Machteld Vis
Stage design: Ateliers du Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Production management: Judith Martin, Marion Caillaud
Distribution: Elizabeth Gay
Produktion Manaka Empowerment: Nina Sautter
A production by Manaka Empowerment Prod., Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, co-produced by: DE SINGEL, Bonlieu Scène nationale, Annecy, Théâtre
Saint-Gervais, Genève, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Dampfzentrale Bern, in co-operation with Residenz Schauspiel Leipzig

With the support of: Expédition Suisse (LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Gessnerallee Zürich, Theater Chur, Kaserne Basel, Théâtre Saint-Gervais, Genève, Dampfzentale Bern, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne), Kultur Stadt Bern, Burgergemeinde Bern, Porosus Endowment Fund / Fonds de dotation Porosus, Migros Aare, Parrotia-Stiftung / Fondation Parrotia

Photo: Claudia Ndebele