Mark Dornford-May
DORNFORD-MAY, Mark (1955- ) is a British-born South African theatre and film director. [1]
Contents
Biography
Born in Yorkshire and brought up in Chester.
Mark Dornford-May has worked in South Africa since 2000.
In March 2007, following a traditional ceremony, he was officially included in the Sotho Clan. He is married to the opera singer, actress and writer Paulina Malefane. Their daughter is actress Chumisa Dornford-May.
In 2024, he founded Ensemble ‘84, a theatre company for County Durham as a sister company to Isango Ensemble.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As producer
Dornford-May has been attached to three companies in South Africa:
- South African Academy of the Performing Arts/renamed Dimpho di Kopane (co-founded with musical director Charles Hazlewood, 2000)
- Isango Portobello (co-founded with Paulina Malefane and producer Eric Abraham, 2006-2010)
- Isango Ensemble (co-founded with Paulina Malefane, 2011-)
Some sources online, including Isango Ensemble's website, suggest or imply that much of Dornford-May's work in South Africa pre-2010 was created with or for Isango Ensemble, but Isango Ensemble was established once The Fugard Theatre ended Isango Portobello's occupancy at the venue in 2010. The earlier works were created with or for Dimpho di Kopane or Isango Portobello.
As director
2000: The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso (Spier Festival in collaboration with Broomhill Opera Company)
2001: U-Carmen ((Dimpho di Kopane))
2001: Der Silbersee (Spier Festival in collaboration with Broomhill Opera Company)
2002: The Beggar's Opera (Dimpho di Kopane)
2004: New York Season: The Beggar's Opera, The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso, Ikumkanikazi yeKhephu, U-Carmen (all Dimpho di Kopane))
2005: U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (film)
2006: Son of Man (film, Dimpho di Kopane)
2007: The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo (Isango Portobello)
2008: The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo (Isango Portobello)
2010: The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo (Isango Portobello)
2010: Aesop’s Fables (Isango Portobello)
2010: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo (Isango Portobello)
2013: Unogumbe – Noye’s Fludde (film, Isango Ensemble)
2015: Breathe Umphefumlo (film, Isango Ensemble)
Other productions for Isango Ensemble (dates unknown) include: A Christmas Carol - iKrismas Kherol, La Boheme – Abanxaxhi, Venus and Adonis, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Man of Good Hope, SS Mendi – Dancing the Death Drill, St. Matthew Passion, Treemonisha.
Awards
He was nominated as Outstanding Director of a Musical for the 2005 New York Drama Desk Awards, received the award for Best Feature at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and was awarded a Golden Thumb by America's Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert. His second film Son of Man 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'
Sources
https://amp-worldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Treemonisha_Info-Deck.pdf
David Smith. 'All-black South African acting company evicted from theatre'. The Guardian. 23 November 2010.
https://brandsouthafrica.com/109109/international-news/ucarmen-ekhayelitsha/
'A real-life drama at the Fugard'. Mail & Guardian. 13 December 2010.
https://www.thefugard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/the-fugard-programme-2010.pdf
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