Qaphela Caesar at City Hall

An interdisciplinary contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Presented by UCT’s Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts (GIPCA) and featuring Mwenya Kabwe, artists from Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, Jazzart Dance Company, UCT School of Dance and UCT Opera School, Pather’s production places Shakespeare’s masterpiece firmly in modern-day South Africa.

Based in a world of power struggles and politics, Shakespeare’s classic text about honour, patriotism and friendship has been reworked by Pather to examine corruption and political power from a modern African perspective. Qaphela Caesar explores betrayal, prophesy, the power of political structures and the position of the individual within it.

This deconstructed performance will take the audience on a journey through 14 rooms within the historic City Hall, alternating between installation and performing art, and incorporating dance, spoken text, multimedia and opera.

Pather was awarded a Donald Gordon Creative Art Award in 2009 and initially created Qaphela Caesar with students from UCT Drama School. In this second iteration he has collaborated with a professional cast to create a rich and multi-layered work.

Each of the five performances of Qaphela Caesar is limited to an audience of 50 people.

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