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Dimpho Di Kopane
Dimpho Di Kopane is a theatre and film ensemble company consisting of thirty fantastically talented South Africa actors and singers. The name Dimpho Di Kopane means “combined talents” in Sotho, one of South Africa’s eleven official languages. The name aptly describes the way in which the company works, relying on every member’s unique skills as well as their collective focus and energy to create work of the highest caliber.

DDK began in late 2000 when Mark Dornford-May and Charles Hazlewood, then Artistic and Music Directors of Broomhill Opera in London, were asked to form an ensemble company in Cape Town. They began recruiting performers through an unprecedented audition process in which over two thousand auditions were held throughout rural and urban South Africa.

In its first four years, Dimpho Di Kopane has achieved phenomenal success. In 2001 Carmen and Yiimimangaliso The Mysteries played at Wilton’s Music Hall in London where both productions had to be extended due to demand for tickets. The productions were listed for six weeks running as the most important music and theatre events in London. The company then went on tour to the US, Australia, Canada, Turkey and the UK.

April and May 2004, in association with Spier Films and Nando’s, DDK made their first feature film U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival 2005.

Went on to do a five week residency in New York City as part of Season South Africa where they presented four of their productions in repertoire: Carmen, Yiimimangaliso The Mysteries, Ibali looTsotsi The Beggar’s Opera and the company’s newest work IKumkanikazi yeKhephu The Snow Queen.

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