South African artist William Kentridge takes the events of a historic sea voyage from Marseille to Martinique as point of departure for his fascinating work “The Great Yes, The Great No”, a theatre play, oratorio and chamber opera all at once. The piece is inspired by the anti-rational and inventive dynamics of surrealism and reveals the strange beauty of the unexpected, the unconventional and the often overlooked. 

William Kentridge – Concept, Director
Nhlanhla Mahlangu, Phala O. Phala, Luc de Wit – Associate Directors
Nhlanhla Mahlangu – Choral Composer
Greta Goiris – Costume Design
Sabine Theunissen – Set Design
Tlale Makhene – Music Director
Mwenya Kabwe – Dramaturg
Urs Schönebaum, Elena Gui – Lighting Design
Žana Marović, Janus Fouché, Joshua Trappler – Projection (Editing & Compositing)
Duško Marović – Cinematography
Kim Gunning – Video Control
Gavan Eckhart – Sound Design

Xolisile Bongwana, Hamilton Dhlamini, William Harding, Tony Miyambo, Nancy Nkusi, Neil McCarthy

Anathi Conjwa, Asanda Hanabe, Zandile Hlatshwayo, Khokho Madlala, Nokuthula Magubane, Mapule Moloi, Nomathamsanqa Ngoma

Thulani Chauke, Teresa Phuti Mojela

Marika Hughes (cello),  Liam Robinson (accordion, banjo), Tlale Makhene (percussion), Dana Lyn (piano)

Choral Music was co-composed by Anathi Conjwa, Asanda Hanabe, Zandile Hlatshwayo, Khokho Madlala, Nokuthula Magubane, Mapule Moloi and Nomathamsanqa Ngoma. With additional solo vocal arrangements by Xolisile Bongwana.

Instrumental music for “The Great Yes, The Great No” was arranged by Nathan Koci, Tlale Makhene, Thandi Ntuli and Marika Hughes.

The libretto of “The Great Yes, The Great No” includes short excerpts from the writings of Bertolt Brecht, André Breton, Aimé Césaire, Suzanne Césaire, Léon-Gontran Damas, Frantz Fanon and others.

Mike Edelman (Boyd Design) – Technical Direction 
Brendon Boyd – Production Manager
Meghan Williams – Stage Manager
Jessica Jones – Libretto Composition 
Thulani Chauke, Teresa Phuti Mojela – Choreography
Hamilton Dhlamini – Ukulele Composition
Mathilde Baillarger – Wardrobe Supervisor
Lissy Barnes-Flint – Props Master
Stella Olivier – Still Photography
Chris Waldo de Wet, Jacques van Staden – Studio Prop Fabrication
Emmanuelle Erhart, David Engler – Costume Fabrication
Lasha Lashvili – Costume Fabrication Supervisor
Michele Greco – Sound Engineer
Alexandre Schreiber, Parker Battle – Lighting Operator
Jessica Jones, Carla Walsh – Studio Assistant