Dimpho di Kompane

Dimpho di Kompane is South African multiracial opera company.

In 1999, Charles Hazlewood and Mark Dornford-May were invited to create a new opera company in Cape Town. After auditioning in the townships and villages of South Africa, the mostly black lyric-theatre company DDK (Dimpho di Kopane – Sotho for “combined talents”) was formed. Of the 40 members, only three had professional training as opera singers.

In January 2001, 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 (as Spier Films).

Sources

https://www.charleshazlewood.com/ucarmen

Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

P.J. du Toit, 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.

Go to ESAT Bibliography