SPAfrica
«SPAfrica» is a collaboration between the German-Dutch director Julian Hetzel and the South African-Bernese performer Ntando Cele about empathy and extractivism. The project explores how closely racism is linked to capitalism through water as conflict material. It uncovers the limits of empathy and its problematic mechanisms. What if empathy is a practice and an active technology that is not to modify and to work against privilege and power but a tool that reinforces it?
«SPAfrica» introduces a sustainable product that is as conflicting as it is clear: drinking water that originates from the sub-Saharan regions and is imported into Europe. SPAfrica – the world’s first ’empathy drink’. The project links the extraction of natural resources with a more poetic idea of extractivism by working with tears as an alternative raw material.
The artistic proposition goes beyond the commodification of concrete materials to the possibility of capitalising on intangible assets such as identity and cultural background. In the international art market, cultural background and identity of the protagonists have become valuable assets of value creation. It seems like trauma is the new gold of the arts. What does it take to transform a negative resource into something valuable?
There will be a conversation after the performance on 15.05.
Julian Hetzel has a broad artistic portfolio as a director and initiator of formally very diverse theatre productions, which often have an installation character and point strongly beyond theatrical fiction in their political power. Ntando Cele is well known not only in Bern, but also at international festivals and in guest theatres, for example as the creator and performer of the productions «Go Go Othello» or «Black Off».
For people with mobility disabilities
Dampfzentrale is wheelchair accessible. There are stair lifts to the foyer, the Turbinensaal and the toilets. The staff will be happy to help you operate the lifts or you can use the Eurokey. The theatre has a barrier-free toilet. If you are coming with a wheelchair, please contact us in advance so that we can reserve an appropriate seat for you: checkin@auawirleben.ch
Surtitles
The text is spoken in English and is surtitled in German. The surtitles do not include additional information about sounds and music.
Special Check-In
We offer the possibility of a Special Check-In. If for any reason you would like to avoid the crowded foyer, have trouble getting into the hall with the crowd, need a special seat, would like to be picked up at the bus station or require assistance due to a mobility restriction, please contact us in advance: checkin@auawirleben.ch
Someone from the team will accompany you according to your needs.
Social Story
Social Stories are used as a tool to prepare people for public events such as theatre performances. In our Social Stories you will find a description for each performance, what situation to expect at the venue and what customs apply there. You can find the PDF for the Social Story (in German) of «SPAfrica» here.
- Concept
- Julian Hetzel, Ntando Cele
- Direction
- Julian Hetzel
- Performance
- Ntando Cele
- Artistic Advisor
- Sodja Lotker, Khanyisile Mbongwa
- Dramaturgy
- Miguel Angel Melgares
- Music & Composition
- Frank Wienk
- Light design
- Nico de Rooij
- Technical coordination
- Cesco van der Zwaag, Martijn van Nunen
- Technicians
- Bea Verbeek, Simon Kelaita, Wout Jansen
- Technical solutions
- Merijn Versnel, Guido Bevers
- Production Coordinator
- Marieke van den Bosch
- Production assistant
- Jana Riese
- Production Cape Town
- Lungilem Mbongwa
- Galerist Cape Town
- Mpilo Ngcukana
- Assistant costume designer
- Merel van Erpers Roijaards
- Mask artist
- Carly Heathcote
- Make-up artist
- Julia Markow
- Prop Maker
- Saskia Hertog
- Video documentation
- Reynold Reynolds, Bongeka Ngcobo
- Video performer
- Revé Terborg
- Intern
- Piet van Duijn Ferreira
- Photography
- Alexandra Masmanidi
Produced by Studio Julian Hetzel
Co-produced by Schauspiel Leipzig, CAMPO Gent, Theatre Vidy-Lausanne, SPRING Performing Arts Festival Utrecht, Auawirleben Festival.
With the support of: Performing Arts Fund, City of Utrecht, Fonds21, Vriendenloterij Fund, Prins Bernhard Culture Fund, Onassis AiR Athens, 16 on Lerotholi Gallery, Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds