A lecture/performance that explores the history of primate research and its links to artificial intelligence and race theory. The lecture also draws on literary and theatrical sources from Kafka, and Beckett and Jm Coetzee. The enquiry gives some insights into the thought about the limits of species and conceptions of the human under National Socialism.

Tony Miyambo, who performs Wolfgang Kohler, primate researcher, will be performing his "Kafka's Ape" at this venue at 7 pm each evening. This lecture is a companion piece, in some ways, and situates Kafka in relation to the scientific and philosophical ideas of his time.(It is likely that Wolfgang Kohler's experiments informed Kafka's imaginative identification with his character, the chimp 'RED PETER'. The lecture was first performed for an International Consortium of humanities scholars hosted by the Centre for Humanities Research at UWC. The performance is in part staged with a hand-carved puppet chimp made by Adrian Kohler, of the world renowned Handspring Puppet Company. Terry Norton is a multiple Fleur du Cap award-winning actress. The show is a combination of puppetry arts, intellectual history, and world class acting. The lecture is written and delivered by Jane Taylor, playwright ad author of "Ubu and the Truth Commission" and "The Transplant Men".

Award-winning actress Terry Norton performs Jane Goodall with great imaginative sympathy. It is a role that was written with her in mind. Tony Miyambo's complex identification with both the primate and the primate researcher allows us to explore another dimension of the fine work that goes into the making of "Kafka's Ape", his prize-winning one-person show.

Jane Taylor is a writer, scholar and curator. She holds the Andrew W Mellon Chair of Aesthetic Theory and Material Performance at the CHR, UWC. She wrote Ubu and the Truth Commission; and has worked extensively in puppetry arts; she has published two novels; and has reserached extensively in the History of Ideas and the Theory and Practice of Performance.

Tony Miyambo is from Tembisa, and is a graduate in Dramatic Art from Wits University; he has co-directed two award-winning TV documentaries. He has travelled with several of his shows to the Czech Republic, The Netherlands and the UK. Most recently he has performed his work at Berkeley in the USA. His one man show "Kafka's Ape" won a silver ovation award; and he won the Brett Goldin award to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford Upon Avon .

Terry Norton studied Drama at UCT; she has lived and worked in Johannesburg, Cape Town, New York and London. She performs across TV, film and the stage. She has two big international releases this year, "Breathe" and "The Forgiven." She has won the Fleur du Cap award for best actress three times.

Audience Responses

Innovative and inspiring. Terry Norton was brilliant. Felt like she was channeling Jane Goodall.

Unusual, thought-provoking. Presented plainly. Impactful.

Performers were impressive, as was the interchange between narrator and performers. A/c set at 17 degrees Celsius - those seated top left were a little warm.

Very very interesting. "Theatrical" elements excellent. Talk itself a bit over-academic and intemellectual.

Fascinating - great performance by Toni Mivambo.