Melbourne Festival in association with Arts Projects Australia, Andrew Kay, Liza McLean and David Vigo present
Mozart's The Magic Flute
Impempe Yomlingo
Tuesday 11 – Sunday 16 October 2011
the Arts Centre, State Theatre
Bookings:
the Arts Centre 1300 182 183
theartscentre.com.au
Ticketmaster 1300 723 038
melbournefestival.com.au
An ISANGO ENSEMBLE production
Adapted and directed by MARK DORNFORD-MAY
Words and music by Mandisi Dyantyis, Mbali Kgosidintsi, Pauline Malefane and Nolufefe Mtshabe
Developed in association with the Young Vic, original producer Eric Abraham
“This updating of The Magic Flute to South Africa offers such a miraculous glimpse into a possible musical future that it's hard to watch without a lump in the throat.” The Independent, UK
The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo will make its Australian premiere as part of the Melbourne Festival this October. This life-enhancing, joyous production is the greatest piece of music theatre performed as you’ve never heard it before – the South African way – with over twenty singers, marimbas, drums and township percussion.
“Performed with infectious wit and visible joy…It's balm to the spirit to hear the heart, humour and soul that pour forth from choral singing of this extraordinary dynamic and prismatic range,” The Independent
Played in a township setting and encompassing various African languages, Mark Dornford-May's acclaimed production effortlessly relocates Mozart’s magical and mysterious kingdom to contemporary South Africa. The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo is an adventure, fairytale, comedy and drama. The work remains faithful to the story and score of Mozart's opera but is totally re-imagined, bringing a fresh perspective to this heart-warming, comedic and ultimately redemptive tale of love, adventure and reconciliation.
The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in London in 2008, broke box office records when it played at the Young Vic in London, was awarded a ‘Globes de Cristal’ for Best Opera in Paris and has received rapturous reviews for performances across Europe, Ireland, South Africa, Singapore and Japan.
South African Isango Ensemble comprises artists at all stages of their creative development with extraordinary and varied musical abilities. Together they re-imagine classics of Western theatre, finding a new context for the stories within a South African or township setting. British born, South African Director Mark Donford-May is a film and theatre director, previously known for the 2005 Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear winning, U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, an operatic film adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen, filmed in Cape Town and shot entirely in Xhosa.
The cast of The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo includes Isango Ensemble co-founder Pauline Malefane bringing her acclaimed interpretation of the Queen of the Night to Melbourne. Malefane received worldwide acclaim for her role as Carmen in U-Carmen eKhayelitsha and was awarded Best Actress at the South African Film & Television Awards for her role in the film Son of Man.
The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo is filled with the rich musical voice of South Africa - emotional, exuberant and hugely uplifting.
“When the classical arias and ethnic ululations fuse, it’s euphoric. Mozart would surely have loved the cheeky wit of turning his orchestra into eight marimbas...,”
Independent on Sunday
MARK DORNFORD-MAY
Director
Mark is co-founder and Artistic Director of Isango Ensemble. He has worked in South Africa since 2000.
Before Isango Ensemble he was founding director of the company Dimpho Di Kopane and directed all their stage productions and films. His productions toured the world and his first feature film U-Carmen e Khayelitsha won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. As Director of Isango Ensemble, Mark has directed all of their stage productions. The first productions, The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo and Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol, won the Whatsonstage Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production. The Magic Flute has since toured the world and won numerous awards including the 2008 Olivier Awards for Best Musical Revival & the Globes de Cristal for Best Opera in Paris.
From July 2009 to February 2010, Mark oversaw the building of the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town. The Magic Flute and The Mysteries formed the opening season of the Fugard Theatre and Isango Ensemble staged two world premieres, Aesop’s Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo at the theatre.
In March 2007, following a traditional ceremony, he was officially included in the Sotho Clan.
MANDISI DYANTYIS
Music Director and Performer
Mandisi is an Associate Director for Isango Ensemble. He has been co-Music Director for all Isango Ensemble productions including The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo, A Christmas Carol – iKrismas Kherol, The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso, Aesop’s Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo.
The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo and Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol won the Whatsonstage Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production, following their season at the Young Vic Theatre, London. The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo then transferred into the West End and was awarded an Olivier Awards for Best Musical Revival. The production has since toured the world and in Paris was awarded a Globes de Cristal for Best Opera. The Magic Flute and The Mysteries formed the opening season of the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town. In 2010 Isango Ensemble premiered two new productions, Aesop’s Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo.
Recently Mandisi travelled to New York to work with Graduate Acting students of New York University, Tisch School of Acting as they explored relationships between South African and American theatre methods.
PAULINE MALEFANE
Music Director and Performer
Pauline is co-founder and co-Music Director of Isango Ensemble.
Prior to Isango Ensemble she worked with the Lyric Theatre Company Dimpho Di Kopane where she saw world-wide success playing the role of Carmen, both on stage and in the Golden Bear-winning feature film U-Carmen eKhayelithsa for which she won a Golden Thumb from Roger Ebert. She was awarded the Best Actress Award at the South African Film & Television Awards for the film Son of Man. In 2008 she was invited to give a series of master classes to the theatre and music students at UCLA.
For Isango Ensemble, as well as being co Music Director for all of their productions, she has played the roles of Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo, God and Jesus in The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso and Scrooge in Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol. The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo and Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol won the Whatsonstage Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production, following their season at the Young Vic Theatre, London. The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo then transferred into the West End and was awarded an Olivier Awards for Best Musical Revival. The production has since toured the world and in Paris was awarded a Globes de Cristal for Best Opera. The Magic Flute and The Mysteries formed the opening season of the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town. In 2010 Isango Ensemble premiered two new productions, Aesop’s Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo.
MBALI KGOSIDINTSI
WORDS, MUSIC
Mbali Kgosidintsi completed her BA honours in Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town. She has co-written and performed in The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo and A Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol (directed by Mark Dornford-May). The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo was awarded the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. Mbali has also performed in productions such as Txt Me (directed by Karen Jeynes), Molora (directed by Yael Faber), Loving Apollo (directed by Marcel Meyer), Breathing Space (directed by Sara Machett), Tall Horse (directed by Marthinus Basson), Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Fred Abrahamse), Waiting for Thandiwe (directed by Lulama Masimini), Horn of Sorrow (directed by Luke Ellenbogen).
Poetry includes: By Word of Mouth (produced by her poetry group Rite 2 Speak). She has performed poetry at various venues in Cape Town.
NOLUFEFE MTSHABE
WORDS, MUSIC
Nolufefe Mtshabe is a former teacher and adjudicator. She completed her BMus (honours) majoring in voice at the University of Cape Town College of Music. She taught at Masiyile High School in Khayelitsha. She is the founder, Director and Choir Master of the Simon Estes Choir, now known as Heavenly Voices. The choir has travelled to the USA and in 1995 they performed at the commemoration of the Hiroshima bombings in Japan. Nolufefe has worked with Cape Town Opera as assistant chorus master; as a singer with La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre and in May this year she wrote and sang in Kutheth Thongo at Artscape. She has co-written and performed in The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo and A Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town; Young Vic, London and Duke of York’s Theatre, West End. In 2008 The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. Nolufefe has also performed in Generations at the Young Vic, London. She has worked with Kamal Khan and Professor Daniel Perkins.
LUNGELO NGAMLANA
Choreographer & Assistant Director
Lungelo is an Associate Director of Isango Ensemble. He has been the Choreographer for all Isango Ensemble productions. Before joining the company he worked as teacher, performer and choreographer with many dance and theatre groups, both at home in South Africa and internationally.
With Isango Ensemble, he has worked with the company on The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo, A Christmas Carol – iKrismas Kherol, The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso, Aesop’s Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo. The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo and Christmas Carol – Ikrismas Kherol won the Whatsonstage Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production, following their season at the Young Vic Theatre, London. The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo then transferred into the West End and was awarded an Olivier Awards for Best Musical Revival. The production has since toured the world and in Paris was awarded a Globes de Cristal for Best Opera. The Magic Flute and The Mysteries formed the opening season of the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town. In 2010 Isango Ensemble premiered two new productions, Aesop’s Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo.
