The Mysteries: An Epic Biblical Drama
A workshopped multilingual operatic play by Mark Dornford-May and the original cast.
Sometimes billed as "The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso or alternatively Yiimimangaliso - The Mysteries – ".
Contents
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
