Dimpho di Kopane

Dimpho di Kopane is a South African theatre cooperative founded by conductor Charles Hazlewood and theatre director Mark Dornford-May.

Also found as Dimpho di Kopane Lyric Theatre Company or referred to by its acronym, DDK

Originally known as South African Academy of the Performing Arts.

The company

In 1999, conductor Charles Hazlewood and theatre director Mark Dornford-May were invited to create a new theatre company in Cape Town. After auditioning in the townships and villages of South Africa, the mostly black lyric-theatre company was formed in 2000. It was called South African Academy of the Performing Arts, a name suggested by the then Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Ben Ngubane. Of the 40 members chosen then, only three had professional training as opera singers. The name was subsequently changed to Dimpho di Kopane – Sotho for “combined talents”)

This lyric theatre company subsequently toured London, Perth, Charleston, New Haven, Turkey, Dublin, Toronto and New York.

Some sources online, including Isango Ensemble's website, attribute most, if not all, of Dornford-May's work in South Africa to Isango Ensemble, but other sources suggest that Isango Ensemble was established once The Fugard Theatre ended Isango Portobello's occupancy at the venue in 2010 following poor box office takings and claims of 'financial irregularities'. Isango Portobello was the company formed by Mark Dornford-May with Paulina Malefane and Eric Abraham in 2006. It was also suggested in the press that Dornford-May's relationship with Dimpho di Kopane also ended problematically with Dornford-May and Paulina Malefane's resignations coming amid financial inquiries.

Productions

2001: In January, the company made its debut with Bizet’s Carmen (as U-Carmen) at the Spier Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch. They later also co-produced the film version, U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (produced by Spier Films in 2005).

2002: They produced a South Africanised production of The Beggar's Opera in Cape Town and London.

2004: The company presented its Season South Africa from October 27 to December 5 in the synod hall of the Cathedral of St John the Divine in Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan. They presented four works in repertory: The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso, U-Carmen, The Beggar's Opera and Ikumkanikazi yeKhephu.

2009: The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo presented at the Victoria Theatre (28-30 May) as part of the Singapore Arts Festival.

Films

Films created by Mark Dornford-May and the ensemble include u-Carmen eKhayelitsha (2005) and Son of Man (2006).

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimpho_di_Kopane

https://www.charleshazlewood.com/ucarmen

Ivan Meredith. 2006. 'Opera in South Africa during the first democratic decade'. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Cape Town.

Paul Boekkooi. 2006. 'uCarmen eAfrika'. Mail & Guardian. 10 August 2006.

https://www.news24.com/sa-performers-in-ny-20041029

'A real-life drama at the Fugard'. Mail & Guardian. 13 December 2010.

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