RETAGS is a project imagined over a period of five years. Each year will hone various outputs in the field of teaching, learning, publishing, creating and reflecting in the realm of Reimagining Tragedy from an African (and Global South) vantage point, contributing to the Performance Studies cannon in a unique way.
2019 saw out the establishment of the project, as well as produced theatrical response to the Greek tragedy of Antigone, directed by Mark Fleishman. (See Antigone (not quite/quiet)). The project also employed a postdoctoral fellow and began the MA of five students all working within the theatre research realm of ‘Tragedy’. Field work was conducted in various African countries and an archival repository was established.
2020 With the Covid-2019 global pandemic, many projects have been postponed. In this year, RETAGS has still managed to have four MA graduates, extend the postdoc fellowship for an additional year and continue ‘field work’ research in an online space. The second creative production has been put in play with the director, Mandla Mbothwe, reimagining his process and concept to a filmic medium. This year also employed a PhD candidate and will host its new cohort of MA students.
2021 ReTAGS hosted two more PhD scholars, and saw the new MA cohort present their first practice-as-research processes, through productions and seminars.
"MÉDÁYÉ: A Rehearsal" by Prof. Femi Osofisan, is a re-reading for the African stage of "Medea" by Euripides. Under the direction of Prof. Mark Fleishman this play reading was streamed online for a limited period in connection with Act 2 of the ReTAGS Speaker Series.
2022 "Ezemiphefumlo … of the Souls" is a production staged at the Little Theatre at UCT, directed by Mandla Mbothwe and Chuma Sopotela. The production featured a guest performance by Indalo Stofile, with dance choreography by Mzokuthula Gasa, both ReTAGS Creative Fellows.