With this startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny sentence, Kafka begins his masterpiece, Metamorphosis. It is a story of a young man who, transformed overnight into a giant beetle like insect, becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home and a quintessentially alienated man.
A harrowing – though absurdly comic – meditation on human feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation, Metamorphosis has taken its place as one of the most widely read and influential works of twentieth-century fiction.Franz Kafka’s masterpiece Metamorphosis highlights the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of UJ Arts & Culture’s work. Conceptualised by around 300 FADA students and performed by a stellar line-up of professionals, Metamorphosis is the story of a young man who transforms into a giant beetle-like insect overnight, becomes an object of disgrace to his family and an outsider in his own home.
One of the most widely read and influential works of 20th-century fiction, Metamorphosis startles the audience with the bizarre story of a quintessentially alienated man. Kafka takes his audience on a harrowing – though absurdly comic – meditation on human feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation.
Working in multidisciplinary groups, FADA students from across ten different departments in the faculty were challenged to explore the ‘other-worldly’ interpretations that this play lends itself to. The cast, featuring William Harding, Craig Morris, Khutjo Green, Ameera Patel and Jack Mabokachaba are complemented by the collaborative design of sets, costumes and animation.
“Having so many minds combined in the creation of an abstract thought such as this play is a rarity,” says Head of UJ Arts & Culture, Pieter Jacobs. “It is a force that entrenches the power of true collaboration within the creative sectors as an agent of deep change and innovation.”
CAST
Gregor Samsa – William Harding
Mr Samsa – Craig Morris
Mrs Samsa – Khutjo Green
Greta Samsa – Ameera Patel
Lodger- Jack Mabokachaba
PRODUCTION TEAM
Executive Producer – Pieter Jacobs
Director – Alby Michaels
Choreographer – Craig Morris
Lightning Design – Oliver Hauser
Set Designers – 2nd Year FADA Students mentored by Sarah Roberts
Costume & Prop Design – 2nd Year FADA Students mentored by Jo Glanville
Set & Prop Construction – Nadine Minaar from Scene Productions
Costume Construction – Madeleine Lotter-Viljoen
Composer & Sound Design – Kuba Silkiewicz
Voice Recordings – Coenraad Rall
Animation Designers – Kathre Hulleey, Nicole Jollivet & Marco Esliva
AV Post Production – Jessica Denyschen
Stage Management – Ayanda Bulose
Marketing – Lakin Morgan-Baatjies
Graphic Design – Mia van Schalkwyk
Photography – Jan Potgieter
Administration – Karabo Thosa