Difference between revisions of "Mark Dornford-May"

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He is married to the opera singer, actress and writer [[Paulina Malefane]]. Their daughter is actress [[Chumisa Dornford-May]].
 
He is married to the opera singer, actress and writer [[Paulina Malefane]]. Their daughter is actress [[Chumisa Dornford-May]].
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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==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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===As producer===
 
===As producer===
  
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Dornford-May has been attached to three production companies in South Africa:
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Dornford-May has been attached to three companies in South Africa:
  
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* [[Dimpho di Kopane]] (co-founded with musical director [[Charles Hazlewood]], 1999)
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* [[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 Portobello]] (co-founded with [[Paulina Malefane]] and producer [[Eric Abraham]], 2006-2010)
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* [[Isango Ensemble]] (co-founded with [[Paulina Malefane]] (2011-)
 
* [[Isango Ensemble]] (co-founded with [[Paulina Malefane]] (2011-)
  
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Some sources online, including [[Isango Ensemble]]'s website, attribute all of Dornford-May's work in South Africa to [[Isango Ensemble]], but it is clear from other sources 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'.
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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===
 
===As director===
  
−
2000: ''[[The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso]]'' ([[Spier Festival]] in collaboration with [[Broomhill Opera Company]]).
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2000: ''[[The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso]]'' ([[Spier Festival]] in collaboration with [[Broomhill Opera Company]])
  
 
2001: ''[[U-Carmen]]'' (([[Dimpho di Kopane]]))
 
2001: ''[[U-Carmen]]'' (([[Dimpho di Kopane]]))
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2001: ''[[Der Silbersee]]'' ([[Spier Festival]] in collaboration with [[Broomhill Opera Company]])
  
 
2002: ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]''  ([[Dimpho di Kopane]])
 
2002: ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]''  ([[Dimpho di Kopane]])
  
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2004: ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' ([[Dimpho di Kopane]])
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2004: New York Season: ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'', ''[[The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso]]'', ''[[Ikumkanikazi yeKhephu]]'', ''[[U-Carmen]]'' (all [[Dimpho di Kopane]]))
  
 
2005: ''[[U-Carmen eKhayelitsha]]'' (film)
 
2005: ''[[U-Carmen eKhayelitsha]]'' (film)
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2006: ''[[Son of Man]]'' (film, [[Dimpho di Kopane]])
  
 
2007: ''[[The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo]]'' ([[Isango Portobello]])
 
2007: ''[[The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo]]'' ([[Isango Portobello]])
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2010: ''[[The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo]]'' ([[Isango Portobello]])
 
2010: ''[[The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo]]'' ([[Isango Portobello]])
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2010: ''[[Aesop’s Fables]]'' ([[Isango Portobello]])
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2010: ''[[The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo]]'' ([[Isango Portobello]])
  
 
2013: ''[[Unogumbe – Noye’s Fludde]]'' (film, [[Isango Ensemble]])
 
2013: ''[[Unogumbe – Noye’s Fludde]]'' (film, [[Isango Ensemble]])
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2015: ''[[Breathe Umphefumlo]]'' (film, [[Isango Ensemble]])  
 
2015: ''[[Breathe Umphefumlo]]'' (film, [[Isango Ensemble]])  
  
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Other productions for [[Isango Ensemble]] (dates unknown) include: ''[[The Snow Queen]]'', ''[[Der Silbersee]]'', ''[[A Christmas Carol – iKrismas Kherol]]'', ''[[Aesop’s Fables]]'', ''[[La Boheme – Abanxaxhi]]'', ''[[The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo]]'', ''[[Venus and Adonis]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night’s Dream]]'', ''[[A Man of Good Hope]]'', ''[[SS Mendi – Dancing the Death Drill]]'' and ''[[St. Matthew Passion]]''.
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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]]''.
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He also produced and directed the film: ''[[Son of Man]]'' ([[Isango Ensemble]]).
 
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
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David Smith. 'All-black South African acting company evicted from theatre'. ''[[The Guardian]]''. 23 November 2010.
 
David Smith. 'All-black South African acting company evicted from theatre'. ''[[The Guardian]]''. 23 November 2010.
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https://brandsouthafrica.com/109109/international-news/ucarmen-ekhayelitsha/
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'A real-life drama at the Fugard'. ''[[Mail & Guardian]]''. 13 December 2010.
  
 
==Return to==
 
==Return to==

Latest revision as of 14:01, 30 July 2025

DORNFORD-MAY, Mark (1955- ) is a British-born South African theatre and film director. [1]

Biography

Born in Yorkshire and brought up in Chester.

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:

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.

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.

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