10 Jun 2009 The Olivier Award-winning Isango Portobello has just returned from the Singapore Arts Festival where the company performed to sold-out houses and great acclaim. With no time to rest, the Cape Town-based theatre company is back on home soil for a three-week run of its new production, The Mysteries - Ihlabathi Nenzaliseko Yalo, at the Baxter Theatre from June 13 to July 5, Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, and 3pm on Sundays.

In September this year the production will travel to London’s West End before the company goes to the famous Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to perform their hit production The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo in October.
This dynamic company was launched in Cape Town in 2007 with the world premieres of their ground-breaking versions of two popular classics - Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol and Mozarts’ The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo.

The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo, which features Mozart’s score transposed for an orchestra of marimbas, broke box office records when it played in repertoire with A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol at the Young Vic Theatre in London. Together these productions won the Whatsonstage Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production. The Magic Flute then won the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival when it transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre for a season in the West End. It has since been performed at the Dublin Theatre Festival, the Chichester Festival Theatre and the Canterbury Festival and in November last year the company made its Johannesburg debut at the Market Theatre followed by a Christmas season in Tokyo.

With The Mysteries - Ihlabathi Nenzaliseko Yalo, the Cape Town-based Isango Portobello brings new life to the great biblical folk plays of medieval Europe, re-imagined through a vibrant spectacle of song, dance and music and performed in the languages of South Africa. This staging is based on the mystery plays, a popular form of theatre performed on carts and pageant wagons in the streets of towns and villages all over Europe at the time.

Pauline Malefane plays God and Jesus with an ensemble of 33 young performers playing several biblical characters from Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel. This exuberant, uplifting and passionate production, performed in English, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and Zulu, is best described as a joyous and moving experience for all, as it journeys through the Bible, celebrating some of the greatest stories ever told, South African-style.

Mark Dornford-May directs, with music by Mandisi Dyantyis and Pauline Malefane, choreography by Lungelo Ngamlana, lighting by Mannie Manim, costumes by Leigh Bishop and Fagrie Nasiep and puppetry by Aja Marneweck.

Isango Portobello was formed and is led by South African-born, British-based, Oscar-winning producer Eric Abraham, theatre and film director Mark Dornford-May (who is British-born but lives in South Africa), and singer and actress Pauline Malefane.

Producer Eric Abraham is well known for producing the Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning film Kolya, which won Best Foreign Language Film in 1996. He was a former journalist and BBC correspondent in South Africa and in 2005 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a documentary entitled Betrayal about his early life as a human rights activist and journalist in South Africa. In his 25 years in British television he produced numerous television series and films.

Theatre and opera director Mark Dornford-May created the South African lyric theatre company Dimpho Di Kopane and was responsible for directing their stage productions, including the hugely successful The Mysteries which played the West End, London and New York. U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, Dornford-May’s first feature film, was awarded the Golden Bear for Best Film in Berlin 2005, Best Feature at the LA Pan African Film Festival and a Golden Thumb by America’s leading film critic Roger Ebert. He was nominated as Outstanding Director of a Musical for the 2005 New York Drama Desk Awards. His second film, Son of Man, released last year, received the Founders Prize at the Traverse City Film Festival presented by Michael Moore, who described the film as ‘one of the most beautiful and subversive films of the decade’.

South African Film and Television Award-winner Pauline Malefane is an opera singer, actor, screenwriter and musical director. She translated, co-wrote and starred in the feature film U-Carmen eKhayelitsha for which she was awarded a Golden Thumb by America’s Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert. In 2006 she was a featured soloist at the BBC Proms. Her previous theatre credits include The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo, A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol, Generations, Porgy and Bess and The Mysteries.  In December 2008, Pauline sang in a series of New Year concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.


Isango Portobello predominantly draws performers from the rich vein of talent emanating from the townships surrounding the Mother City. The company has been operating from the Athlone Methodist Church Hall for the past two years. To date their work has specialised in re-imagining some of the classics from the western theatre canon and finding a new context for the stories within an African or township setting, thus creating new work that is relevant to the heritage of the nation.

Dornford-May’s genre-busting signature style of locating stories in a township setting, encompassing the various languages of the country’s rich tapestry and tackling redemption as a central theme, continues to have a powerful resonance in contemporary South Africa.

“The goal is to create a positive celebratory message through the work and showcase something glorious coming out of Africa,” said Dornford-May. “It’s still difficult for the majority of young South Africans who have talent to get started in the performing arts. We want to offer them an opportunity, as well as utilise some of the fantastic young actors who are already achieving recognition. We hope to create projects which will help to unlock the potential in this huge pool of raw talent that exists in this country.”

Isango Portobello continues its tradition of making theatre accessible and affordable to audiences by offering all tickets at R40 for the Tuesday night performances on June 16, 23 and 30. A fantastic offer of paying just R40 for any performance also applies to patrons who book at any of the following Shoprite outlets: Athlone, Bishop Lavis, Blue Downs, Cravenby, Gatesville, Khayelitsha CBC, Lentegeur, Maitland, Makhaza, Mitchells Plain, Phillippi and Rocklands.

The Mysteries - Ihlabathi Nenzaliseko Yalo previews from June 13 to 16, opening June 17 and running until July 5. Performances are Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, and 3pm on Sundays June 21 and 28 and July 5. Parental guidance is advised.

Book through Computicket on 083 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet countrywide. For discounted block, schools or corporate bookings, charities and fundraisers, contact Yandiswa on 021 680 3991, Sharon on 021 680 3962 or Taryn on 021 680 3993 during office hours. 

For further media enquiries, interview or picture requests please contact Fahiem Stellenboom, Marketing Manager, Baxter Theatre Centre on 021 680 3971, cell 072 2656 023 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact Jane Boxall on 021 680 3963, 083 412 3955 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Produced by: Eric Abraham and Isango Portobello
Adapted and Directed by: Mark Dornford-May
Music: Mandisi Dyantyis and Pauline Malefane
Choreographer and Assistant Director: Lungelo Ngamlana
Lighting: Mannie Manim
Costumes: Leigh Bishop and Fagrie Nasiep
Puppetry: Aja Marneweck

Cast:
Malungisa Balintulo, Noluthando Boqwana, Mandisi Dyantyis, Zamile Gantana, Unathi Habe, Bulelani Madondile, Phumzile Theo Magongoma, Pauline Malefane, Bongiwe Mapassa, Simphiwe Mayeki, Zanele Gracious Mbatha, Lungelwa Mdekazi, Thozamo Mdliva, Noluthando Mili, Ncebakazi Mlungwana, Nobulumko Mngxekeza, Xolani Momo, Mhlekazi Andy Mosiea, Zoleka Mpotsha, Luthando Mthi, Busisiwe Ngejane, Zolina Ngejane, Mlungiseleli Nqadini, Thamsanqa Ntoninji, Sonwabo Ntshata, Luvo Rasemeni, Poseletso Sejosingoe, Portia Shwana, Noluthando Sishuba, Sifundo Soji, Xolani Tabane, Lizo Tshaka, Sebastian Zokoza.

Dates:
The Mysteries - Ihlabathi Nenzaliseko Yalo

Previews from June 13 to 16, Opens June 17 and runs until July 5, at 7.30pm nightly, and 3pm Sunday matinee performances on June 21 and 28 and July 5.

Booking:

Book through Computicket on 083 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet countrywide.

For discounted block, schools or corporate bookings, charities and fundraisers, contact Yandiswa on 021 680 3991 or Sharon on 021 680 3962 or Taryn on 021 680 3993 during office hours. 

Prices:

Previews: R50 & R60
Tuesdays: R40 (June 16, 23 & 30)
Wednesdays and Thursdays: R80 & R100
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: R100 & R120

Discounts:

Tuesday night special - all tickets R40 for Tuesday night performances on June 16, 23 & 30.

Book at the following Shoprite outlets for just R40 for any performance: Athlone, Bishop Lavis, Blue Downs, Cravenby, Gatesville, Khayelitsha CBC, Lentegeur, Maitland, Makhaza, Mitchells Plain, Phillippi and Rocklands.

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays only, excluding previews

R60: UCT Staff, Senior Citizens and block bookings of 10 or more

R40: Students with a valid student card and Baxter Clubcard holders