South Africa’s Isango Ensemble Announces Sir Ian McKellen as New Patron

Today, Isango Ensemble announced Sir Ian McKellen as its new patron. A long-time supporter of the South African group, Sir Ian paid tribute to Isango's "astonishing" performers in his acceptance of the position. Also unveiled today was an International Council of high-profile supporters for Isango, drawn from the worlds of music, theater, and film.

On accepting the title of patron, Sir Ian said:

"I am often asked to become a patron of organizations I admire, and my reply is usually the same: ‘Forgive me, but I don't have the time to support you properly.' But the Isango Ensemble is different; it is unique, producing work of international standards, linking high art to the lowly lives of its astonishing performers. I am honored to be asked to be your patron and enthusiastically accept. The future of Isango is important not just to its company members but to South Africa and to the world beyond."

Sir Ian recently worked closely with Isango when he performed in Sean Mathias's world-renowned production of Waiting for Godot at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town, as well as at the Sports Centre in nearby Khayelitsha, where he and Beckett's masterpiece both received a warm welcome from township residents.

News of Isango's new patron comes after the announcement earlier this month that the ensemble had moved to the township of Gugulethu on Cape Town's outskirts. This follows Isango's term as Company-in-Residence for the opening year (2010) of Cape Town's Fugard Theatre.

"We are thrilled with Sir Ian becoming Isango's new patron, especially at such an exciting time as our move to Gugulethu and all the opportunities there," said the company's music director, globally-acclaimed opera singer Pauline Malefane.

Malefane also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Trevor Manuel, a long-time Finance Minister and currently the Minister within the South African Presidency, whose period as patron ended last month. "We all want to express our enormous thanks for his work in backing Isango," said Malefane, "and we value his pledge of continued support to the company."

Sir Ian McKellen will be assisted in his role by a newly-established International Council, which will support Isango by acting as advisors to the company. The inaugural list of council members was unveiled today and includes well-known industry giants, ranging from Sir Simon Rattle, Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, to the eminent actor and director Alan Rickman.

The council members are, in alphabetical order:

Sharon D. Clarke, theater and television actor
Stephen Daldry, director whose work includes Billy Elliot on both stage and screen
Mike Downey, film producer
Kwame Kwei-Armah, actor, writer, and board member of London's Royal National Theatre
David Lan, Artistic Director of London's Young Vic Theatre
Sean Mathias, theater and film director
Sir Simon Rattle, Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Alan Rickman, actor and director of theater and film

Isango Ensemble is looking to stage new works through 2011 for both national and international audiences. News of its next major production will be made shortly, as it continues to develop a new theater space in the townships.

The South African company Isango Ensemble is based in Cape Town. Led by director Mark Dornford-May and music directors Pauline Malefane and Mandisi Dyantyis, the company draws performers from the townships surrounding the city. The company's work to date has focused on re-imagining classics from the Western theater canon, finding a new context for the stories within a South African or township setting, and creating new work that is relevant to the heritage of the nation. The company's structure embraces artists at all stages of their creative development, allowing senior artists to lead and contribute towards the growth of rising talents. Isango Ensemble is committed to creating theater that is accessible to all South Africans and encourages the building of a united South African nation.

In 2007 Isango Ensemble premiered The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo and A Christmas Carol - Ikrismas Kherol. Both productions transferred to the Young Vic Theatre, London, where they broke box office records and were jointly awarded the Whatsonstage Award for Best Off-West End Production. The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo then transferred into the West End and was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. It has since played to sold-out houses across the world and in Paris received the Globes de Cristal for Best Opera. In 2009 Isango's re-working of The Mysteries - Yiimimangaliso played at the Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town, and then had an acclaimed season in London's West End. In 2010 Isango was the Company-in-Residence for the opening year of the Fugard Theatre, in Cape Town's District Six area, where it premiered two new productions, Aesop's Fables and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - Izigwili Ezidlakazelayo.

The company adapted its stage production of Carmen and in 2005 U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, starring Malefane in the title role, won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The company's second film, Son of Man, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski