UNDERSTANDING THE VISION
Why This Festival Matters
Ntsikelelo Ngcanga speaks on the thinking behind the “Bongani Linda & Peter Ngwenya Soweto Theatre Festival"
In a time where the South African theatre landscape is constantly evolving—often at the cost of forgetting its own foundations—there is a growing urgency to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the thinkers, makers, and community builders who shaped its very existence. To understand a festival of this magnitude is not only to look at its programme, but to engage deeply with the intention, philosophy, and cultural responsibility behind it.
The festival is not merely a commemorative event—it is a deliberate intervention. It asks difficult questions about memory, access, and continuity in the arts. It challenges the sector to reconsider where theatre lives, who it serves, and how its history is preserved.
At the centre of this vision is festival organiser Ntsikelelo Ngcanga, who speaks with clarity and conviction about why honouring Bongani Linda and Peter Ngwenya is both necessary and urgent.
A Festival Rooted in Urgency and Memory
Ngcanga explains that the festival was born out of a deep concern that the legacies of these two theatre giants risk being forgotten if not actively revisited and re-engaged.
“The festival was born out of a deep urgency to honour and preserve the legacy of Bongani Linda and Peter Ngwenya. Their contributions to South African theatre are profound, yet at risk of fading if we do not actively revisit and celebrate them.”
For Ngcanga, what makes these legends significant is not only their artistic output, but their commitment to community-centred theatre. Their work existed beyond traditional stages, activating township spaces and bringing storytelling directly to the people.
“Their work reminds us that ‘theatre does not begin on the stage—it begins with the people.’”
Reclaiming Space and Rewriting the Narrative
A critical dimension of the festival is its response to a long-standing gap in the sector—the lack of platforms that intentionally revisit and interrogate legacy theatre, particularly work created outside mainstream institutions.
Ngcanga highlights that some of South Africa’s most powerful theatrical expressions were born in alternative and community spaces, yet remain under-documented and under-celebrated.
“This festival creates a platform where that history is not only remembered, but actively reactivated, interrogated, and shared with new audiences.”
Rather than nostalgia, the approach is one of reinterpretation—ensuring that these works continue to live and evolve in contemporary contexts.
Bridging Generations Through Practice
Central to the festival’s vision is the intentional blending of generations—pairing lived experience with emerging creative voices. This is reflected in the selection of directors and the broader curatorial approach.
“We cannot lead the future of theatre without understanding its past.”
Ngcanga emphasises that this intergenerational dialogue is not symbolic—it is essential. It creates a space where knowledge is transferred, challenged, and reimagined, ensuring continuity within the sector.
Beyond Performance: A Living Archive
The festival expands beyond staging productions to include masterclasses and public memory submissions—an approach that reframes how theatre history is preserved.
“The public is not just an audience—they are co-archivists of memory.”
By inviting communities to share their stories, the festival becomes a participatory cultural archive, where lived experiences hold equal value to written texts and formal documentation.
This process transforms the event into something far more powerful:
a collective act of remembering.
Building the Future from the Past
For emerging practitioners, Ngcanga sees this festival as both grounding and catalytic—a space to learn, reflect, and innovate.
“You stand tallest when you stand on the shoulders of those who came before you.”
The intention is clear: to ensure that new voices are not disconnected from the philosophies and practices that shaped South African theatre, but are instead empowered to build upon them.
A Long-Term Cultural Vision
Importantly, this is not a once-off event. Ngcanga positions the festival as the beginning of a sustained cultural platform—one that will continue to honour theatre legends and deepen engagement with their work.
“This is the beginning of a long-term cultural vision… ensuring that their stories, methodologies, and contributions continue to inspire future generations.”
A Call to Remember, Together
At its core, the festival is a reminder that theatre is not separate from society—it is embedded within it. It lives in memory, in community, and in the shared experiences of those it touches.
Ngcanga leaves us with a powerful reflection:
“A people without memory are a people without direction—and theatre is one of the ways we remember.”
As the festival approaches at Uncle Tom’s Hall, it invites not just attendance, but participation—calling on the sector and the public alike to engage, reflect, and contribute to a living legacy.
Because ultimately, this is not just about honouring the past—
it is about shaping the future of South African theatre, together.
Submit your memories, photos, and participation interest here:
https://forms.gle/uN3nqUPsY8Rubrp86
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