Open call for 'The Golden Stool, or the story of Nana Yaa Asantewaa'

A new performance of Gorges Ocloo, LOD & Toneelhuis

Read — 21 February 2022

Theatre maker Gorges Ocloo is looking for seven black female performers with a talent for dancing and singing for his new project.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

For The Golden Stool, or the story of Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Gorges Ocloo brings nine black women together on stage: South African soprano Nobulumko Mngxekeza-Nziramasanga and mezzo-soprano Nonkululeko Nkwinti are joined by a group of dancers, percussionists and singers. They perform a special mix of classics from the Western operatic repertoire, transformed by Ocloo into a highly rhythmic, dynamic AfrOpera.

Together they tell the story of the War of the Golden Stool: a historic war in 1900 between Great Britain and the female army of the Ashanti Empire, an ethnic group from the south of present-day Ghana where Ocloo also has his roots. Warrior Nana Yaa Asantewaa was at the head of this army and led the resistance. An underexposed story from African history about the power of symbols, the struggle for independence and above all: the woman who led the struggle to the end.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for seven black, female performers with a talent for singing, dancing and/or percussion. A good sense of rhythm is very important. An education or professional experience is optional but not necessary.
You are 18+ and can make yourself available from March to May 2023. The premiere is planned at the end of April and the beginning of May 2023 in Antwerp and Ghent.

WHEN ARE THE AUDITIONS?

The first audition round takes place on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 April 2022.
Everyone is welcome, but please register first using this Google form. The language of the audition is Dutch and English.

Your audition will take two hours and will be between 10:00 and 18:00. You will be given a number of instructions in groups of roughly 10 people. You will be asked to prepare a short piece of music and dance in advance. More information will follow after you have registered.

After that, there will be a second audition round for those who have been selected on Saturday 30 April 2022.

The auditions take place in the attic of the Bourla (Toneelhuis), Komedieplaats 18, Antwerpen.

HOW TO REGISTER?

ANY QUESTIONS?

Please don't hesitate to contact via eva@lod.be or 09 266 11 33.