Between 2006 and 2010 Portobello Productions worked with Isango Portobello, a collaboration with Golden Bear award-winning director Mark Dornford-May set up in order to produce theatre and film projects focused on South African talent for an international audience.
Based in Cape Town, the company predominantly drew performers from across the townships surrounding the city and specialised in re-imagining classics from the Western theatre canon, finding a new context for the stories within an African setting. The collaboration was part of South African-born Eric Abraham's commitment to promoting South African film and theatre achievements in the international arena.
Productions included THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS, AESOP’S FABLES, THE MYSTERIES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL - IKRISMAS KHEROL and THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO. Together A CHRISTMAS CAROL - IKRISMAS KHEROL and THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO won the Whatsonstage Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Off-West End Production. THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO also won an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival when it transferred to the Duke of York's theatre for a season in the West End.