Aug 25, 2009
South African Cabinet Minister becomes Patron of the Isango Portobello Theatre Company, which finds a home in a new theatre in Cape Town, The Fugard.
Minister Trevor Manuel, former SA Finance Minister and now Head of the National Planning Commission and a key member of President Jacob Zuma’s government, has agreed to become the patron of the Cape Town-based Isango Portobello theatre company.
Believed to be the largest-standing black theatre company in the world, Isango Portobello was formed in 2007 by South African born producer Eric Abraham, opera star Pauline Malefane and theatre and film director Mark Dornford-May.
In 2008 the company won a coveted Olivier Award for its production of THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO in London’s West End. This acclaimed production has since toured to Dublin, Tokyo, Singapore and Johannesburg and from October 8th it will have its continental European debut and play for two weeks at the prestigious 2,000-seater Châtelet Theatre in Paris and then move to the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam.
Minister Manuel was the company’s guest of honour for the opening night of THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg last October and last month joined the company for the closing night of their latest production, THE MYSTERIES, at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.
Next month, Isango Portobello will perform its new production of THE MYSTERIES at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End, which will run for three weeks.
Other awards garnered by the creative team of Isango Portobello include the 2005 Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear Award for Mark Dornford-May’s film U-CARMEN EKHAYELITSHA, based on his stage production of Bizet’s CARMEN. For her performance as Carmen, Pauline Malefane was awarded the Golden Thumb and in November 2007 she won Best Actress at the South African TV and Film Awards for her performance in Dornford-May’s film SON OF MAN. Producer Eric Abraham’s film KOLYA was awarded an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award.
Isango Portobello Producer Eric Abraham said: “Minister Manuel’s endorsement of the company is an enormous domestic boost for home-grown talent which wows international audiences abroad but has still to be affirmed at home. I am sure his generous agreement to be our patron will help the company become a source of national pride.”
At the same time, Eric Abraham announced that he has decided to build a new theatre for the Isango Portobello Company in the heart of Cape Town. The new theatre is to be called The Fugard and is located in the District Six area, in the Sacks Futeran Building, which is owned by the District Six Museum. Renovations commenced this week and an opening date has been set for January 2010.
Athol Fugard has written a new play which he will direct and which will form part of the opening season of The Fugard.
Eric Abraham said “Athol Fugard is an international giant of drama who has over half a century created iconic South African plays featuring narratives of all of its people, black and white. At the end of the fifties, at the height of apartheid, he was a cultural pioneer who wrote and directed plays for black actors about the lives of black South Africans. His work has been a source of inspiration to me in underwriting and producing the Isango Portobello company. We are deeply honoured that Athol has agreed to let us name our theatre after him.”
A new addition to the Isango Portobello team, Mannie Manim, a much garlanded mainstay of South African theatre, will join The Fugard in January following his retirement as CEO of Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre in December. Having been both a long-term supporter of the Company and Lighting Designer for all its productions to date, Mannie will work with the Company in developing and programming The Fugard.
Mannie Manim said “I am very excited to be involved in the building of a new performance space in this historic site and look forward to working with the Company, which I regard as one of the most positive developments on the Performing Arts Scene in this country for a long time. I am also very pleased that this venture will be honouring South Africa's leading playwright who, over the last five decades, has written a number of great plays, recognised as modern classics worldwide.”
The Artistic Director of the Isango Portobello Company and The Fugard, Mark Dornford-May said “It is a great honour for us to have the endorsement of Minister Manuel at such an exciting time in the development of the company. Having supported us from our early days we are delighted that the Minister has agreed to become our patron.”
Principal performer and founding member of Isango Portobello, Pauline Malefane said “It is hugely exciting for Isango Portobello to be moving into our own home. Thanks to Eric Abraham’s generosity we will have the opportunity to bring our work to the people of Cape Town and to continue to develop both our own talents and the talents of younger generations of South African performers.”
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For further information please visit the official website for THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO and the official website for THE MYSTERIES.