Isango Ensemble

Isango Ensemble ISANGO ENSEMBLE is an internationally renowned South African theatre company that draws its artists from the townships in Cape Town. R.

Our productions & films have played to sold out theatres worldwide. Our stage productions and films have played to sold-out audiences across the world, and we’ve received numerous international awards. Isango’s productions re-imagine classics from the Western theatre canon, finding a new context for the stories within a South African or township setting, thereby creating inventive work relevant to

the heritage of the nation. Isango’s award-winning film U-Carmen eKhayelitsha and our second film Son of Man were filmed on location in Khayelitsha and propelled this historically disadvantaged township into the international spotlight. Local residents were given the opportunity to be part of the films, and U-Carmen premiered
in Khayelitsha’s O. Tambo Sports Centre, playing there for three weeks to excited audiences. We intend to further develop this process by building a truly mixed audience, reflecting – and uniting – our diverse South African nation.

10/04/2026
10/04/2026

Grief, betrayal and revenge. The search for truth carries a deadly cost....

Tickets are on-sale now for our next production!

Join us for a striking new staging of ‘The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s First Quarto' - a shorter, rarely performed version of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Told with striking differences in structure, dialogue and character names, the story unfolds with compelling theatrical energy, combining powerful storytelling with live music, song and movement.

A kingdom is unsettled. The King of Denmark is dead, his brother now wears the crown, and Prince Hamlet is left grieving - and suspicious. When the ghost of his father appears with a terrible revelation, Hamlet is drawn into a dangerous quest for truth and revenge. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, the royal court becomes a place of spies, deception and growing madness. Hamlet must decide how to act in a world that no longer feels certain.

Directed by Mark Dornford-May and performed by our all-County Durham cast in our immersive venue, The Playhouse in Horden, Shakespeare’s gripping tale is staged once more, providing a fresh perspective on the familiar story.

📍 The Playhouse, South Terrace, Horden, County Durham, SR8 4NQ
📅 Dates: May 26th – June 6th, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM (Evenings), 2:30 PM (Matinees) (7pm, 28th May)
⚠️ Advisory: May contain flashing lights, loud music and strong language.

🎟️ Tickets £10-20 (Age restriction advised 12+) → Book now at https://www.ensemble84.com/first-quarto-hamlet/ or call 0191 300 4340

Don’t miss this extraordinary production. Join us at The Playhouse in Horden from 26th May – 6th June

Culture Durham Redhills Durham Into the Light

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
28/11/2025

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
12/11/2025

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

A brilliant first night at Live Theatre Newcastle! Here are some beautiful photos by Keith Pattison.‘Mother Courage and ...
24/10/2025

A brilliant first night at Live Theatre Newcastle! Here are some beautiful photos by Keith Pattison.

‘Mother Courage and Her Children’ continues TONIGHT until Saturday 1st November. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary production!

FINAL TICKETS → live.org.uk/whats-on/mother-courage-and-her-children

📍 Venue: Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
🗓️ Dates: Thursday October 23rd - Saturday November 1st, 2025
⚠️ Content Advisory: May contain flashing lights, loud music and strong language.
(Age restriction advised 12+)

Into the Light Culture Durham

Get your tickets for Mother Courage and her Children at Live Theatre Newcastle now!
11/09/2025

Get your tickets for Mother Courage and her Children at Live Theatre Newcastle now!

Mother Courage and Her Children is coming to Live Theatre Newcastle ! Tickets are on-sale now, join us 23rd October - 1st November 2025!

A fierce, urgent retelling of Bertolt Brecht’s classic anti-war play, translated by Lee Hall, directed by Mark Dornford-May, performed by our all-County Durham cast alongside South Africa’s internationally acclaimed Isango Ensemble.

📍 Venue: Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
🗓️ Dates: October 23rd - November 1st, 2025
⚠️ Content Advisory: May contain flashing lights, loud music and strong language.
Tickets are on-sale now. (Age restriction advised 12+)

Book tickets → live.org.uk/whats-on/mother-courage-and-her-children

Debuting this production in May earlier this year marked a huge milestone for us. We’re excited to be bringing this to Live Theatre, one of the most iconic venues in the North East. Whether you missed ‘Mother Courage’ the first time around, or you’re itching to see it again, join us!

27/08/2025

We've got a corking line up of shows coming this Autumn/Winter & these are some of the brilliant highlights that will take to our stage 👀 ⬇️
🎭 Bad Lads in assoc. with Graeae created from the testimonies of the Medomsley Boys
🤣 Metroland Comedy with their brand new sharp & surreal comedy show
🎭 Mother Courage & Her Children from Ensemble '84 & Isango Ensemble with a story of survival, sacrifice, & the devastating cost of conflict
🎭 Big Ange by Jamie Alexander Eastlake
Blue jeans, a whistle, & a Neil Diamond playlist — Big Ange, the dinner lady has got this.
🎭 debbie tucker green - a celebration of one of our most important Black British playwrights
🎭 Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? A wintry tale that will have the whole family squawking with laughter!
Get your 🎟️ asap at https://www.live.org.uk/

27/05/2025
We hope those who were able to go enjoyed it!
26/05/2025

We hope those who were able to go enjoyed it!

20/05/2025
Don’t just take our word for it…4* review from The Guardian. 👏🏻 Ensemble '84
18/05/2025

Don’t just take our word for it…4* review from The Guardian. 👏🏻 Ensemble '84

Ensemble ’84 generate an exhilarating racket in this gutsy rendition of Brecht’s play about the thirty years’ war

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Cape Town

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(+27) 21 6861644

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