William Kentridge's epic performance combines music, dance, film projections, mechanised sculptures and shadow play to create an imaginative landscape on an huge scale. The world premiere of this major new work was performed against the dramatic backdrop of Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. on a 70 metre long stage. William Kentridge’s exploration of Africa’s role in the First World War combines music, dance, film projections, mechanized sculptures and shadow play to illuminate an untold story. A play on the Ghanaian proverb, “the head and the load are the troubles of the neck,” the large-scale work speaks to the experience of the nearly two million African porters and carriers used by the Germans, British and French who bore the brunt of the casualties during the First World War in Africa. This rich and multi-layered performance features an international cast of singers, dancers, and performers, including South Africa, Guinea, Europe and Australia.

With William Kentridge and Philip Miller, Joanna Dudley developed her soloist role- a disturbingly deranged and Dada-esque Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Kaiser was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia and one of the most recogniseable public figures of WWI who was seen as the personification of evil and ultimate source of all German 'frightfulness'. Joanna performed his original speech declaring WWI with bird of prey screeches, blood curdling screams and Dada-esque cabaret absurdity. Pushed across stage in a rail cart or perched on a high ladder overlooking the action from above, she was crowned with an eagle helmet created by Kentridge.

The Head & the Load was commissioned by and premiered at the Turbine Hall TATE Modern London, The Ruhrtriennale, The Park Avenue Armoury New York, ArtBasel Miami, Holland Festival and Johannesburg Theatre.