Sep 16, 2009
Isango Portobello's new production of THE MYSTERIES opened in London on September 15th to great critical acclaim. The production sees the Olivier Award-winning South African company bring to life some of the greatest stories ever told, from the Creation to the Resurrection through Noah’s Ark and the Nativity, in a vibrant spectacle of music and dance. Selected reviews follow below:
* * * * *
"Utterly captivating...Donford-May’s direction is nothing short of visionary...The actors, drawn from Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township, enchant with their mixture of gravity and comedy...The Mysteries is total theatre, an event that affirms one’s faith in the form...An exhilarating sensory feast"
The London Evening Standard
Full review
* * * * *
"A sensational show to nourish the soul...It explodes on to the stage with a glorious mixture of faith, spirituality, joy and humanity, refreshing the parts other shows cannot reach...Shows as moving and uplifting as this only arrive once in a blue moon...You leave The Mysteries feeling blessed."
The Daily Telegraph
Full Review
"A divine show...exciting, surprising, clever, uplifting and moving… a terrific spectacle"
The Daily Mail
* * * *
"The production’s exuberance remains irresistible...Not just a well-drilled company but an expression of communal joy"
The Guardian
Full Review
* * * *
"Gorgeous chant and infectious dance...The show has, you feel, been improvised in an impoverished township and exudes the best of its values"
The Times
Full Review
* * * *
"Miraculous storytelling at its imaginative, unaffected, exuberant best."
The Mail on Sunday
* * * *
"Sheer unabashed joy….one of the most colourful, melodic and uplifting spectacles currently to be had in theatreland."
The Sunday Telegraph
* * * *
"A wonderful uplifting production"
The Financial Times
Full Review
* * * *
"Exhilarating music, movement and words...as moving as it is miraculous"
The Sunday Express
Full Review
* * * *
"Irresistible...A great musical explosion on bongos, steel drums and oil canisters."
What's On Stage
Full review
"Fresh, spirited and vibrant...Life-enhancing storytelling that is as moving as it is frequently miraculous...This epic piece of multicultural theatre speak to us all"
The Stage
Full review
The show is playing at London's Garrick Theatre for 25 performances only, until the 3rd October.