Desert Poems | GUEST PERFORMANCES | SEASON 11

DESERT POEMS CONCEPTUALISER & PERFORMER | Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe From 26 to 30 November 2025, The Centre for the Less Good Idea hosted Season 11. Curated by Impresario for the Less Good Idea, Neo Muyanga, and supported by The Centre’s core team, Season 11 focuses on work made by and in collaboration with Johannesburg’s many artists, theatremakers, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and thinkers, as well as a host of invited international artists. Much of Season 11 has been shaped by Muyanga’s curation at The Centre over the last two years. For Muyanga, whose practice straddles the spheres of performance and scholarship, and whose compositional style is grounded in the South African choral tradition, a key interest is that of the collective voice as a vector that shapes society. Specifically, it’s the act of collective seeing and shaping that runs through Season 11. “It’s about how we become an ensemble, whether we are performers, audience members, or neighbours. It’s how the city performs itself through us, and also how we choose to perform the city. Johannesburg is a place that requires a collective navigation, a mutual reliance, a particular call and response,” says Muyanga. Season 11 is an amalgamation of the last two years of The Centre’s experimental programming, which engages a dramaturgy of sound, deep listening, and collective ways of seeing. It also embraces new strategies and performances that collectively interrogate the city as both a site and a protagonist – an emergent and unpredictable space, always seemingly on the precipice of collapse or great change. SEASON 11 ARTISTS Thulisile Binda, Andrew Buckland, Anathi Ithana Conjwa, Shane Cooper, Jaques De Silva, Chris Djuma, Hallie Haller, William Harding, Qondiswa James, William Kentridge, Didintle Khunou, Namatshego Khutsoane, Billy Langa, Katlego Letsholonyane, Nolwazi Mahlangu, Micca Manganye, Sibahle Mangena, Vincent Mantsoe, Nombuso Mathibela, Aalliyah Matintela, MoMo Matsunyane, Nomsa Mazwai, Mbe Mbhele, Nozipho Mnguni, Nandipha Mntambo, Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, Melusi Mnqobi Molefe, Candice Moleshe, Katleho Jack Moloi, Peggy Mongoato, Angelo Moustapha, Pertunia Msani, Phelelani Mthembu, Marcus Neustetter, Toby Ngomane, Khanyisile Ngwabe, Smangaliso Ngwenya, Mongezi Ntukwana, Dele Olojede, Sello Pesa, Phala Ookeditse Phala, Molatudi Phasumane, Kitty Phetla, Siyabonga Radebe, Ayanda Mujaji the Rain Seoka, Ngwedi Ramphele, Jill Richards, Frank Scheffer, Tebogo AusTebza Sedumedi, Daniel Selibe Stompie, Mary Sibande, Noluthando Jupiter Sibisi, Penny Siopis, Mallika Taneja, Nomsa Myth Tavarwisa, Reggie Teys, Jefferson Tshabalala, Matthew Wilhelm-Solomon, Shanell Winlock-Pailman & Uvile Ximba PRODUCTION FOR THE CENTRE FOUNDER | William Kentridge CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | Bronwyn Lace IMPRESARIO | Neo Muyanga MOMENTEUR FOR THE SO ACADEMY | Athena Mazarakis HOLDER | Dimakatso Motholo-Miya DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITOR | Noah Cohen CINEMATOGRAPHER & EDITOR | Bukhosibakhe “Pantsulatographer” Khoza HEAD OF SOUND | Zain Vally SOUND ENGINEERS | Ross Culverwell & Thando Mpungose PHOTOGRAPHERS | Zivanai Matangi & Stella Olivier ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER | Bash Hops WRITER & HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS | David Mann SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT | Jaden Mmokwa Oratile Mosadi GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Marcus Neustetter SCENOGRAPHER & COSTUME DESIGNER | Nthabiseng Malaka COSTUME DESIGNER | Nthabiseng Makoni DESIGN TEAM | Tzung Hui Lauren Lee, Amy Pitt, Philani Masedi, Bongani Mpofu, Tshireletso Adams, Mbalentle Mntoza, Lindani Nxumalo & Molebogeng Phiri SEWIST | Thato Mahlangu HEAD STAGE MANAGER | Jessica Sibongile Mathe STAGE MANAGERS | Khanyisile Ngwabe & Meghan Williams TECHNICAL CO-ORDINATOR | Ruby Friedman LIGHTING DESIGNER | Michael Inglis LIGHTING TECHNICIAN | Themba Mthimkulu ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR | Jacqueline Ndelu ADMINISTRATOR | Thembelihle Hadebe HOUSEKEEPING & SPACE MANAGER | Gracious Dube SPACE & EQUIPMENT MANAGER | Bongani Mpofu FRONT OF HOUSE | POPArt Productions USHERS | Mlungisi Tshobeka, Balungile Alexander Mdlongwa, Siboniso Nokepeyi, Kamogelo Magajane & Kutlo Retlametswe Rantlhane LIGHTING, SOUND & STAGE GEAR SUPPLIER | Gearhouse Splitbeam (Pty) Ltd STAGE GEAR SUPPLIER | Setsational SOUND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER | SoulFire Studio (Pty) Ltd Special thanks: Chris-Waldo de Wet, Jacques van Staden, Joey Netshiombo, Diego Sillands, Thandi Nkabinde, Linda Leibowitz, Natalie Dembo, Damon Garstang, Anne McIlleron, Anne Blom, Taryn Buccellato, Jessica Jones, Laurie Cearley, Rachel Chanoff & THE OFFICE performing arts + film Website: https://lessgoodidea.com/season-11-no... Instagram:   / lessgoodidea   TikTok:   / less.good.idea   Facebook:   / lessgoodidea   #lessgoodidea @lessgoodidea