Photos

1st Night Photos: South African Mysteries Return

Theo Bosanquet
London's West End

Award-winning South African theatre company Isango Portobello returned to the West End this week (15 September 2009, previews from 11 September), bringing their acclaimed production The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso to the Garrick Theatre for a three-week run.

Since first being seen in South Africa in 2000, the show has had an extended West End season, running for four and a half months to 18 May 2002 at the Queen’s Theatre, toured worldwide and returned for a week at the Peacock Theatre five years ago (See News, 3 Mar 2003). It’s so far been seen by more than 250,000 people worldwide.

This new production comes care of Cape Town-based Isango Portobello Theatre Company, the same team behind last year’s Whatsonstage.com and Olivier Award-winning South African version of The Magic Flute, which had a West End run at the Duke of York’s theatre following its UK premiere at the Young Vic (See News, 19 Dec 2007).

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF THE MYSTERIES‘ 1st NIGHT PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.
PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM.

For 1st Night Photos, our Whatsonstage.com photographer Dan Wooller was at the Garrick Theatre for the arrivals and curtain call, and at Cafe in the Crypt for the after party, where the company were joined by guests including Alan Rickman, Jeremy Irons, Stephen Daldry, Pawel Pawlikowski, Rosa Monckton, Janet Suzman and Sigrid Rausing.

The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso has musical direction by Mandisi Dyantyis and opera singer and Magic Flute star Pauline Malefane, who also leads the 33-strong ensemble in the new production, playing God and Jesus. It has choreography by Lungelo Ngamlana, lighting by Mannie Manim, costumes by Leigh Bishop and Fagrie Nasiep and puppetry by Aja Marneweck. Eric Abraham, who co-founded Isango Portobello Theatre Company with Mark Dornford-May, produces.

It continues at the Garrick to 3 October 2009.