About The Winter/Summer Institute

Launched by eight colleagues from the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), the Republic of South Africa (RSA), and Lesotho, WSI is a multicultural, collaborative effort among faculty facilitators and student performers from three continents as well as community participants from the rural mountain villages of Lesotho's Malealea Valley. Our biennial program challenges participants to create issue-based, aesthetically provocative, entertaining theatre.

Since its inception, the Theatre for Development (TfD) focus of WSI has been a response to the community health situation in Lesotho. Along with much of sub-Saharan Africa, Lesotho has a staggering HIV infection rate—currently estimated at over 23% ¹ (the 3rd highest in the world), and disproportionately affecting young women between 18 and 24. As part of addressing the pandemic, WSI examines the ways in which complex social issues impact the spread of the virus.

Our 2008 Residency video,"The Contamination Waltz," illustrates a concurrency network and shows the process of building a scene

In 2008, we explored the effects of stigma and denial in regard to getting tested for HIV, along with the potentially dynamic role played by "concurrency" —networks of simultaneous, ongoing, committed sexual relationships with a small number of people. Our 2008 performance, It's Just You and Me ... and My Wife and Your Boyfriend (Ke 'Na Le Uena Le Mosali oa Ka Le Mohlankana oa Hau Feela), also played the National University, the capital, and the Malealea Valley. In Malealea we collaborated once again with local villagers and performed in the festival for an even larger crowd.

The collaborative creative process WSI has been developing, which begins months before the multinational group gathers in Lesotho, is discussed on
The Communication Initiative Network, and will be featured on our Watch/Listen page so check back soon.

Procession of WSI actors and Malealea villagers to the final Festival performance (2008)

We spent our most recent residency (June/July 2011) in Lesotho's Malealea Valley working more extensively with the rural drama group Khalemelang Bohlasoa. Together we created Would You Still Love Me if You Knew? (Ha U N'u Tseba, Na U N'u Tla 'N'u Nthate?).

The 2011 show looked at the way "tradition" and "modernity" clash around questions of religion and medicine, and presented a performance frame for issues of homosexuality, sex trafficking and the growing divide between rural and urban—all guided by a rambunctious, irreverent pair of bilingual Tricksters.

In 2006 we looked at how gossip and silence, in Lesotho and in each of the other cultures represented, could lead to disempowerment and danger in the face of the most significant challenges of modern life. The resulting theatre piece, Dance Me to the End of Love (Ntjeke Ho Isa Pheletsong ea Lerato) was performed at the National University of Lesotho, the capital city, Maseru, and in the Malealea Valley. In Malealea we collaborated with local villagers to improvise scenes based on their responses to the play and concerns about HIV. Together we created a new drama—the centerpiece for a valley-wide festival, drawing an audience of over 500 village residents.

WSI actors Katleho 'Moleli (Lesotho) and Rethabile Mokete (Lesotho) rehearse "concurrency" with Malealea villagers (2008)

To date, WSI has included students and faculty from: the National University of Lesotho; the State University of New York, Empire State College, New York City (US); the University of Sunderland (UK); and the University of the Witwatersrand (RSA).

The Institute's primary theatre work takes place every two years in sub–Saharan Africa, with residencies, research endeavors, fund raising, and performance projects in participating countries during the intervening period. The ultimate goal of the Institute is to empower both student and community participants with the tools and resources necessary to create similar theatre projects in their own communities and lives.

1 World Health Organization. HIV/AIDS epidemiological
fact sheet 2008: Lesotho. Return ↩

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WSI 2011 Participants: Deanna Bergdorf, Chris Dunton, Earlecia Gibb, Anna Gutto, Nancy Herard-Marshall, Ithabeleng Khotle, Ntombi Khumalo, Canedy Knowles, Thabo Leketanyane, Sakoane “Calvin” Lesoetsa, Katt Lissard, Sekoai Mahlaka, Tshegofatso Makhafola, Rethabile Malibo, Molobane “Mimi” Moatshe, Mohapi Moeketsi, Thabang Mokete, Selloane Mokuku, Matsoso “China” Monyatsi, Ndwamato “Enos” Mudau, Sibongile Nkosi, Nyaisi Tlali, Sele Radebe, Moso Ranoosi, 'Mabotho Ramaphoma, Margarita Ramos, Jussara Santos-Raxlen, Lunga Seele, Ithateleng “Itee” Sesinyi, Melissa Shetler, Khants'i Soldart, Alta Van As, Lucy Winner.

WSI 2008 Participants: Gillian Attwood, Brooke Bassin, Deanna Bergdorf, Boreng Hlalele, Ed Hodson, Lucy Kennedy, Palesa Koloko, Katt Lissard, Likonelo Majara, Tshegofatso Makhafola, Jerry Maleke, Popa 'Maleng, Rethabile Malibo, Rob Matthews, Rethabile Mokete, Selloane Mokuku, Katleho 'Moleli, Julius S. Nkosi, Linda Oliphant, Sele Radebe, Molomo Ramothello, Jussara Santos-Raxlen, Moso Ranoosi, Lisemelo Sefotho, Ithateleng Sesinyi, Melissa Shetler, Sophy Lebogang Sito, Despina Stamos, Denise Toricollo, Ken Triwush, Alta Van As, Lucy Winner, Simpiwe Banzi Zondo.

WSI 2006 Participants: Gillian Attwood, Jacqueline Cadger, Phumlani Dimon, Tamu Favorite, Eric Feinblatt, Kim Hess, Ufoma Komon, Ditchaba Lekaota, Lereko Lekena, Katt Lissard, Rethabile Malibo, Neil Marshall, 'Masoai Matala, Kath McCreery, Bernie McLaughlin, Relebohile Mokone, Selloane Mokuku, Litšeo Mosenene, Marjorie Moser, Thobile Mtsweni, Mosele Peshoane, Sara Owen, Thembeni Phoseka, Jussara Santos-Raxlen, 'Matšepo Sethunya, Melissa Shetler, Sele Radebe, Moso Ranoosi, Motjoka Ramonono, Alta Van As, Rik Walton, Nigel Watson, Lucy Winner.

Principal photography by Brooke Bassin, Eric Feinblatt, Margaret McGeorge, Rik Walton, Limpho Mokuku, and Jussara Santos-Raxlen





	Make Theatre, Make a Difference.				The Winter/Summer Institute