The Mysteries: An Epic Biblical Drama

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search

A workshopped multilingual operatic play by Mark Dornford-May and the original cast.

Sometimes billed as "The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso or alternatively Yiimimangaliso - The Mysteries – ".

The original text

Workshopped at Spier estate in Stellenbosch with the South African cast by Mark Dornford-May, and including dialogue and songs in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu.

Based on the medieval Chester Mystery plays, focusing on various stories from the Bible.

Isango Ensemble

The Baxter Theatre, Cape Town

The Garrick Theatre, London's West End

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2001: First staged as part of the Spier Festival in December 2000 to January 2001 in the Spier Amphitheatre, directed by Mark Dornford-May, with a multi-cultural cast of 34 amateur players including Vumile Nomanyama (as Jesus), Andries Mabalo Mhali (as Lucifer) and Sibusiso Ziqubu (as Noah). Music and musical direction by Charles Hazlewood.

2001: Staged by the Broomhill Opera Company and the Spier Festival at Wilton's Music Hall, London in July,

The same production was staged in London's West End in February 2002.

Sources

Sunday Independent, 17 December 2000.

Review by Betsy Rudelich Tucker, Theatre Journal (Vol. 54, No. 2 - May, 2002)[1]

Citizen, 18 December 2000.

The Star, 20 December 2000.

Business Day, 20 December 2000.

The Star, 12 March 2002.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page