Difference between revisions of "Paulina Malefane"
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As Mary in ''[[The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso]]'' she has played in the West End, New York, and at the Spoletto, Dublin, New Haven and Perth international festivals. | As Mary in ''[[The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso]]'' she has played in the West End, New York, and at the Spoletto, Dublin, New Haven and Perth international festivals. | ||
| − | She saw world-wide success playing the role of Carmen, both on stage and in the Golden Bear-winning feature film ''[[ | + | She saw world-wide success playing the role of Carmen, both on stage and in the Golden Bear-winning feature film ''[[u-Carmen eKhayelitsha]]'', for which she won a Golden Thumb from Roger Ebert. She has since played the role in Australia and the USA as well as at a Presidential Command Performance in Johannesburg. |
In 2006, she was featured soloist at the BBC proms at London's Albert Hall with the songs of Kurt Weill. In the same year, she sang the role of Bess in ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' at both Umea and Malmo in Sweden. | In 2006, she was featured soloist at the BBC proms at London's Albert Hall with the songs of Kurt Weill. In the same year, she sang the role of Bess in ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' at both Umea and Malmo in Sweden. | ||
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In the autumn of 2006 she sang Bess in ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' in Cape Town and Sweden. | In the autumn of 2006 she sang Bess in ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' in Cape Town and Sweden. | ||
| − | In 2007 Pauline co-wrote ''[[The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo]]'' and ''[[A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol]]''. Both productions were performed at The [[Baxter Theatre]] and Young Vic, London. Pauline was co-Music Director and played the roles of God and Jesus in the production of ''[[The Mysteries | + | In 2007 Pauline co-wrote ''[[The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo]]'' and ''[[A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol]]''. Both productions were performed at The [[Baxter Theatre]] and Young Vic, London. Pauline was co-Music Director and played the roles of God and Jesus in the production of ''[[The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso]]'', at the [[Baxter Theatre]]. |
She translated, co-wrote and starred in the award-winning stage production and film of ''[[U-Carmen eKhayelitsha]]''. | She translated, co-wrote and starred in the award-winning stage production and film of ''[[U-Carmen eKhayelitsha]]''. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:11, 16 September 2026
Paulina Malefane (1976-) is an opera singer, actor, screenwriter and musical director.
In some sources, written as Pauline Malefane.
Contents
Biograhy
Pauline Malefane was born in South Africa in 1976. She grew up in the township of Khayelitsha and went to Masiyile High School. It was then that she was introduced to choral music, by her choir mistress Nolufefe Mtshabe.
Married to Mark Dornford-May. Their daughter is actress Chumisa Dornford-May.
She is an advocate for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Training
She graduated from the University of Cape Town’s College of Music with a Performer’s Diploma in Music.
Career
As Mary in The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso she has played in the West End, New York, and at the Spoletto, Dublin, New Haven and Perth international festivals.
She saw world-wide success playing the role of Carmen, both on stage and in the Golden Bear-winning feature film u-Carmen eKhayelitsha, for which she won a Golden Thumb from Roger Ebert. She has since played the role in Australia and the USA as well as at a Presidential Command Performance in Johannesburg.
In 2006, she was featured soloist at the BBC proms at London's Albert Hall with the songs of Kurt Weill. In the same year, she sang the role of Bess in Porgy and Bess at both Umea and Malmo in Sweden.
In 2007/8 she appeared in The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo played in repertory with A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol at the Young Vic before transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre.
In 2008, she was invited to give a series of master classes to the theatre and music students at UCLA, and in 2009 she became the first black African singer to perform in the New Year's Concert in Berlin with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle.
In 2012, Paulina played the role of Venus in Isango's Venus & Adonis, which opened the Globe to Globe season at Shakespeare's Globe in London. Following its success, she and the production returned to the Globe in May 2013.
In 2013, she also played Noah in Unogumbe, an adaptation of Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde and in 2015, the role of Zoleka in Breathe - Umphefumlo.
On Isango’s USA Tour in 2015, she once again played Carmen and sang Titania in the new adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In 2016 Paulina created and played the roles of Yindy and Sadicya in A Man of Good Hope at London’s Young Vic and New York’s BAM.
Paulina performed with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra again in 2017 in The Cunning Little Vixen (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle), semi-staged by Peter Sellars.
During November of 2020 Paulina reprised her role as Yindy in Isango Ensemble’s A Man of Good Hope at the National Theatre of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain. In 2022 she played the role of Monisha in Isango's version of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha.
Paulina has also taught at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Co-founder Isango Portobello (2006-2010) and Isango Ensemble (2011-) and a performer in and musical director for their productions, including The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo (Fugard Theatre, 2010).
In the autumn of 2006 she sang Bess in Porgy and Bess in Cape Town and Sweden.
In 2007 Pauline co-wrote The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo and A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol. Both productions were performed at The Baxter Theatre and Young Vic, London. Pauline was co-Music Director and played the roles of God and Jesus in the production of The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso, at the Baxter Theatre.
She translated, co-wrote and starred in the award-winning stage production and film of U-Carmen eKhayelitsha.
Awards
2008 she won the Best Film Actress Award for her performance in Son of Man at the South African Film and Television Awards.
Sources
Mark Shenton, Playbill, 11 September, 2009[1]
https://amp-worldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Treemonisha_Info-Deck.pdf
https://beyondthesinglestory.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/pauline-malefane/
https://www.isangoensemble.africa/the-team
https://www.thefugard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/the-fugard-programme-2010.pdf
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