Curated by Neo Muyanga and part of The Centre’s COLLATIONS series, this three-day immersive event will transform central Johannesburg into a living, breathing performance space – where the city’s heartbeat pulses alongside the minds of artists, dreamers, and urban explorers. With site-specific theatre, interactive murals, sonic installations, and plenty of surprises, you’ll experience Johannesburg like never before.
Here's a look at some of the programme line-up:
Staged performances
Four playwrights (Jefferson Tshabalala, MoMo Matsunyane, Balindile ka Ngcobo, and Melusi Mnqobi Molefe) will offer short, sharp sketches giving their unique take on Johannesburg’s downtown pulse.Interactive soundscapes
The Playgroup sound art collective invites you to create your own audio journey through Maboneng. Your ears will never hear the city the same way again.Mural madness
Nonka Mbonambi and team bring some serious street art to life with a large-scale mural and ‘mobile’ walls around the Arts on Main area.Special performances
A once-off, site-specific performance by Qondiswa James unpacks the harsh realities of life and death in this vibrant but challenging city.Live music, poetry, and DJ Sets
Adding to the creative energy, Narowbi curates a sensory explosion in the Arts on Main courtyard before and after the main performances.The Unexpected City explores Johannesburg’s complexities through art, sound, and stories from Thu, Mar 27 – Sat, Mar 29 at The Centre for the Less Good Idea. Some events are free, while tickets go up to R150 per person. Book for The Unexpected City here.
