Performance at the Malealea Valley Health Clinic

The Gossips, Litšeo Mosenene (Lesotho) and Sara Owen (UK),
comment on the play's action

WSI is developing a way to create collaborative group performance based on a phased structure of ensemble effort. The phases of this Creative Model: gathering information/ accessing material; generating improvisational responses to this material and to participants' own experience; and, shaping this work into public performance.

Prior to gathering in Lesotho in 2006, all participants read texts and articles relevant to the HIV/AIDS pandemic (see Resources, Links & Downloads). Combined with presentations by colleagues from the National University on topics from language taboos to the role of custom in the spread of HIV, these readings provided a shared context for our multi-cultural company.

Based on the readings and presentations, the faculty devised improvisational "tasks" for students/actors, and facilitated scene-building as the work progressed.

Dance Me to the End of Love (Ntjeke Ho isa Pheletsong ea Lerato in Sesotho), was a montage of scenes drawn from the improvisational work that had been enlarged, deepened and refined. The play began with a procession of songs and movement, with music woven throughout the montage. The cast played multiple roles (and multiple musical instruments) – the only consistent characters being four Gossips who served as transitional commentators, scene announcers, and translators.