Born in 1980, Ntando Cele is a director, performer, and theatre maker hailing from South Africa. She graduated from Durban University of Technology in 2001 with a National Diploma in Drama Studies, and went on to obtain her Master of Theatre from DAS Theater Amsterdam in 2009 -2012. With her unique style, Ntando Cele has created, performed, and co-written political satire and performances in collaboration with renowned artists such as Katie Mitchell, Julian Hetzel, The Royal Court Theater, Brixton House, and Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne . Her works are a unique blend of South African and global influences and explore identity politics through creative expression. In addition to her performances, Ntando Cele also collaborates as a dramaturg, coach, and facilitator, experimenting with biographic and political creative expressions in her creations. She has made significant contributions to the theatre world and continues to challenge audiences and promote inclusivity through her works.
tracy september, (1980) is a South African musician, performer and music researcher based in Zürich, Switzerland. With influences of jazz, traditional Xhosa singing and electronic experimentation, she works around themes of memory, spirit and protest, with a particular passion for improvisation. For tracy improvisation is a way to surrender attachment and trust the capacity of one’s intuition. It is an invitation to let go. tracy uses her voice, electronics, texts, archive materials and field recordings, to tell stories that are deeply rooted in ritual, community and communion. Ritual as a transformative tool; community as the foundation, and communion as a means for intimate fellowship. Outside of her solo projects, tracy makes music for film, theatre and dance pieces. She is a member of the band Black Pitch and is also a DJ playing under her pseudonym youngseptember.
Project
SEPTEMBER uses documentary theatre & personal history to make sense of the past, present & possible futures. Musician & performer tracy september honours her role as a custodian of lost stories by celebrating stories narrated from handwritten texts by her late grandmother & photographs from her family archive. The performance explores identity, religion & love before & during apartheid. How can this knowledge be translated into generational wealth? How can we expand our understanding of revolutionary acts of resistance? How do the past, present & future exist at the same time in all of us? How do we carry these legacies in our bodies? Over the course of the mentoring programme, tracy & Ntando will develop the work to a point where it will be recorded & shared as a work in progress in a theatre space, with the aim of seeking further funding & partners for co-production.