A powerful adaptation of Kafka’s "A Report to an Academy", this production subtly reimagines the original text as a universally relatable yet unsettling exploration of what it means to adapt as an “other” within society. Set in a South African context, the adaptation places Red Peter the Ape at the heart of a post-apartheid existence, forcing him to navigate survival in a transformed world. While the fundamental structure of the story remains intact, Red Peter’s journey—seen through the animal’s gaze—offers a profound reflection on the tension between self and other.
Friday, June 13, 7:00 PM | performance of Kafka's Ape + discussion with artists | REGISTRATION
performance length: 1 hour / in English
Adapted by Phala Ookeditse from the story by Kafka / Performed by Tony Miyambo / Photos by Zivanai Matangi
Winner of the Outstanding Performance Award at Prague Fringe Festival, the Graham F Smith Peace Foundation Award at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and the Lustrum Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. This performance of Kafka's Ape is part of the Rehearsal for Truth theater festival organized annually by the Václav Havel Center.
Phala Ookeditse Phala is the Animateur at The Centre for the Less Good Idea, an interdisciplinary arts incubator based in Maboneng, Johannesburg. An acclaimed “storiyer,” he has earned multiple awards for his work across South Africa, the USA, the Czech Republic, and Australia. Phala holds a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts from Wits University. His creative approach foregrounds emotionally and psychologically stimulating storytelling as a distinctly African aesthetic. Passionate about innovation, he focuses on methodologies that challenge and disrupt conventional norms, paving the way for new forms of artistic expression.
Tony Bonani Miyambo is a dynamic actor and theatre-maker with a BA in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand. Throughout his career, he has built a versatile portfolio in both theatre and the South African television industry, taking on roles as a producer, writer, actor, and director. Tony has collaborated with various production companies on projects ranging from variety shows to long-form dramas. His extensive stage experience includes numerous productions, some of which have toured internationally. Among his acclaimed solo performances are The Cenotaph of Dan Wa Moriri, Commission Continua, and the multi-award-winning Kafka’s Ape. In 2012, Tony received the prestigious Brett Goldin Award and subsequently trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK.
