I was excited to see the much acclaimed, award-winning South African Isango Ensemble’s interpretation of St Matthew Passion.

At the 2015 Brisbane Festival I had seen Les Ballets C de La B’s captivating Coup Fatal and imagined this performance, although from a different company with different performers, would be in the same vein.

However, although there were some similarities, the two shows were miles apart.

Despite the outstanding vocal performances by the thirteen strong male and female cast, I found myself dozing off slightly and wishing for it would stop dragging on.

The semi-staged concert had no major lighting or set design and costuming and props were kept to a bare minimum.

Props were sparse yet, cleverly used.

Such as a ladder standing in for a crucifix.

Performers appeared barefoot in black t-shirts and jeans with the odd coloured piece of cloth or jacket to distinguish characters.

The obvious difference was the character of Jesus who sported a denim shirt to make him recognisable amongst his disciples.

This was just as well because at times the use of mixed language – minimal English, South African dialects and Bach’s operatic score – made it difficult to follow and distinguish characters.

If you are not familiar with the Biblical story of Christ’s last hours you may find it all a bit difficult to follow.

Along with group vocals in perfect harmony, there were several outstanding operatic male and female solo vocal performances throughout the show.

However, the highlights for me were when the whole cast came together in traditional South African songs, laments and dance.

The energy and smiles of the cast during these segments were contagious.

Throughout the performance, I found myself wishing for more South African and less of Bach.

The powerful voices were accompanied by a full marimba orchestra and some everyday household items were intriguingly converted to musical instruments.

Although St Matthew Passion was not completely my taste, I appreciated the magnificent vocals, marimba accompaniment, clever use of props and energy and enthusiasm displayed by the cast.

Interpretation of a well-known story is difficult at the best of times.

I felt that the incorporation of more South African song and dance would have gone a long way to livening up the heavy, well-known story of Christ’s last hours on earth.

Would I recommend this performance?

It would depend on who I was talking to.

St Matthew Passion certainly was interesting and made me think and feel during and after the show (I like that!).

I am a follower of Jesus so I am glad that the story was true to the book of Matthew but also had a slant/angle that meant I didn’t already know how it ended.

The use of their native language (at least I think it was) was both good and bad.

It was good because I had to rely on other cues for interpretation (voice tone, body language etc) but also I would have liked to have known was said/sung all of the time.

So a mixed feeling on a dual language musical.

There is no doubt the performers were talented and entered into their roles with believability.

In terms of how I felt, they sung a hymn that I knew as a kid but have not have heard since which took me back to my childhood and the sombreness of the song.

I was particularly moved when they took Jesus’ body down from the cross – so lovingly and with such deep sadness.

The set design was simple and the transitions seamless.

I particularly liked the use of song, xylophone-type instruments and whistles to create atmosphere behind the dialogue.

So overall I would give it an 8 out of 10 – very enjoyable.

I was not sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.

Traditional South African music and a full Marimba Orchestra combined with Bach, The Isango Ensemble took me on a modern minimalistic journey of Jesus’ last days on earth.

In their newest production “St Matthew Passion”, The Isango Ensemble delivers a compelling production of Christ’s betrayal, trial and execution.

Directed by Mark Dornford-May, this truly unique musical showcases beautiful African voices and weaves an emotional sometimes deeply sorrowful journey that culminates with a powerful ending.

The performance in both English and African language appeared to hold the audience around me spellbound as did the atmosphere that ebbed and flowed throughout the performance.

The production was pared back in the way of sets and costumes which allowed for both the talents of the cast and the story to be the highlight.

The music was arranged by Mandisi Dyantyis who very cleverly combined a major choral piece by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and the superb voices of the Isango Ensemble to complement a well-known bible story along with the dance routines choreographed by Lungelo Ngamlana.

Such great rhythm left me wanting more.

If you’re looking for something totally out of the ordinary which combines wonderful voices, a historical music score and a biblical story then this just might be for you.

Whether you love classical or choral music or not, there’s no escaping the sheer beauty and power of St Matthew Passion, by Cape Town’s Isango Ensemble.

An adaptation of Bach’s original choral work – which explores the final days of Jesus Christ, his betrayal, trial, and crucifixion – this unique reworking will quite simply take your breath away.

The Isango Ensemble has made a name for themselves reimagining Western Theatre classics within a South African setting and this could perhaps be their most powerful work to date with its parallels to a divided South Africa and its themes of forgiveness and equality.

As the audience enters, the performers are already milling casually on stage which immediately breaks the expectation of a traditional classical or choral performance, grounding the show in authenticity and connection.

The simple staging and basic costuming (black t-shirts and pants) add to this but don’t be fooled – when the show starts, it is anything but basic.

Thanks to Music Director Mandisi Dyantyis (who also play Jesus), the vocals swing effortlessly back and forth between complex classical arrangements – angelic arias and thunderous choruses – and equally complex yet even more beautiful African folk singing.

The performers’ voices are literally heaven-sent and the accompanying marimbas add depth while being sparse enough to allow the vocals to carry the weight.

The choreography is clever, swinging also between stillness and an earthy, vigorous joy and energy.

The storytelling lies in the dramatic vignettes woven throughout, told in a mixture of English, Afrikaans and Xhosa.

But, any language barrier is dissolved by the emotional heft of the performances.

Any audience members not familiar with the stories of the Gospels might miss some of the finer nuances but this doesn’t take away from the overall power and energy of the show.

Must see.

At first sight, St Matthew Passion embodies a trilogy of unlikely companions.

A test of approximations, there is the 2000-year-old story of the crucifixion of Christ, an over 200-year-old composition by Bach, laced together by traditional South African folk music.

St Matthew Passion proves what divides in time is connected by tradition and is well told by glorious South African voices.

The show is more than an adaptation of Bach’s original work; it is a reimagining of Christ’s betrayal, trial and execution adopting a South African lens.

Showing the story of a man fighting injustice in an occupied state resonates with South Africans.

The cast, from disadvantaged townships, is as dramatic as they are devoted to a convincing performance.

The show is a unique experience with minimalist stage presentation but a traditionalist ‘big show’ performance.

Visually, the iconic last supper scene was a highlight.

Although, given the prestige of the Concert Hall, witnessing the crucifixion of Christ on an aluminium double sidestep ladder was a visual stretch, and served only to distract from the very moving portrayal of Mary Magdalene.

The 70-minute experience blends Xhosa and Afrikaans with just enough English to catch any lagging audience, myself included.

Where the story left me behind, I still had the Passion, Bach’s music in arrangements for marimba.

Overall, this was quality performance; it was only toward the end did I silently will Christ’s death so I could escape to the bar!

St Matthew Passion is a musical performed by the Isango Ensemble which is a unique South African Theatre Company.

This talented group of artists created a magnificent vocal musical with so much enthusiasm.

They passionately expressed sorrow acting out Christ’s last time on earth through traditional powerful songs accompanied by a Marimba orchestra where all 14 members play at various times during the performance.

The story of the lead up to Christ’s crucifixion has been given a theatrical boost by the Isango Ensemble.

By adapting Bach’s masterpiece to incorporate traditional South African songs and trading violins and flutes for marimbas and vocal percussion, this production will surely attract a new audience to what is a sacred piece of music.

The performances from the ensemble were engaging and when the lead soprano had her moments, I was sighing with admiration.

There was nothing overpowering about any of the operatic singing as a non-opera fan can feel, but the power of them together was exquisite.

The choreography felt free and relaxed and simple props like sheets and a ladder were used to great effect.

The simplicity of the climactic scene did nothing to detract from the pain, both physical and emotional.

I did get a bit lost with the story when they spoke in native tongues but by using common sense I was able to work out most of it.

Because of that, I wasn’t as captivated with the dialogue scenes as I expected. 4/5 stars

I was sceptical at first on what a classical Bach piece would look like with African influence, but this piece is absolutely amazing.

The choir voices are in harmony and beautifully tell the story of Christ Passion.

The minimalistic production encourages you to focus on the characters and their story rather than the set.

The music and voices move you and make you feel with them.

My favourite character was Mary, who captured everyone with her emotional journey.

This piece is something I would highly recommend to friends and would go to see again.