The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso

A workshopped multilingual opera by Mark Dornford-May and the original cast.

Sometimes billed as Yiimimangaliso - The Mysteries, or alternatively The Mysteries: An Epic Biblical Drama, depending on where it is played or discussed.

The original text

Developed by Mark Dornford-May and the Broomhill Opera Company and with the South African cast as a workshopped production at the Spier estate in Stellenbosch. The play includes dialogue and songs in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu.

Based on the medieval Chester Mystery plays, focusing on various stories from the Bible.

Isango Ensemble

The Baxter Theatre, Cape Town

The Garrick Theatre, London's West End

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2001: First staged as part of the Spier Festival (in collaboration with Broomhill Opera Company) in December 2000 to January 2001 in the Spier Amphitheatre, directed by Mark Dornford-May, with a multi-cultural cast of 34 amateur players including Vumile Nomanyama (as Jesus), Andries Mabalo Mhali (as Lucifer) and Sibusiso Ziqubu (as Noah). Music and musical direction by Charles Hazlewood.

2001: Staged by the Broomhill Opera Company and the Spier Festival at Wilton's Music Hall, London in July, in repertory with Carmen by the same company.

2002: Transferred to the West End's Queen's Theatre , in London's West End in March, under the auspices of the Isango Portobello company. Thereafter it went on tour internationally, playing toured internationally in theatres from Dublin to Tokyo.

2009: The Isango Portobello production was revived. Opening at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, it then played at the Garrick Theatre, London and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The new version had one signigificant change: God and Jesus were now played by a woman (Pauline Malefane). Musical direction of the new version was 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.

2010:It played the opening season of The Fugard theatre in Cape Town.