Broken Chord

About the Show

Featuring four soloists and acclaimed UK choir Echo Vocal Ensemble, Gregory Maqoma’s work tells the story of a South African chorus whose tour through North America and England in the late 19th century was marred by the realities of racism. The piece lays bare the burden of the white gaze and what it feels like to move beyond its constraints. Maqoma became interested in dance as a means to escape the political tensions growing in his place of birth, Soweto. Here he collaborates with Musical Director Thuthuka Sibisi, who himself started his career at the world-renowned Drakensberg Boys Choir School. Together they present a unique work about past and present issues concerning borders, migration and identity.

UK Premiere