Debut Theatre Production by Ensemble ’84

Ensemble ‘84 a pioneering theatre company based in Horden, County Durham, has announced the dates for its debut production, Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Mark Dornford-May and adapted by screenwriter Lee Hall, this bold first production is a culmination of a 24-week, paid training programme for individuals from across County Durham to become professional actors and form its cast. Its part of the county wide Into the Light project, widening access to creative education and breaking down barriers for those aspiring to work in the creative industries. 

Mother Courage and her Children features an ambitious international collaboration with Isango Ensemble – the acclaimed, multi-award-winning theatre company from Cape Town, South Africa, whose work has served as both a model and inspiration for Ensemble 84. Mother Courage… will premiere in Horden, East Durham, this May. 

Written in 1939, Mother Courage and Her Children follows the story of a shrewd canteen wagon owner, Anna Fierling—known as Mother Courage—as she struggles to make a living by profiteering from war while trying to protect her three children. Set against the backdrop of the Thirty Years’ War, Brecht’s play is a powerful exploration of survival, sacrifice, and the devastating cost of conflict. This new adaptation by Lee Hall, known for his award winning screenplays for Billy Elliot and Rocketman, brings fresh urgency to Brecht’s iconic anti-war drama, offering a contemporary lens on its themes of resilience and moral compromise.

Performed by Ensemble ‘84’s all-County Durham cast, ‘Mother Courage… places the voices from the North East at its heart, celebrating the rich talent of the region. South Africa’s acclaimed Isango Ensemble bring their globally recognised approach to theatre-making and adds a powerful international dimension to this special production. This collaboration bridges histories and geographies, drawing parallels between different struggles for survival and resilience across continents. Through this meeting of artists, cultures, and lived experiences, Mother Courage is reimagined as the bold and urgent piece of theatre of our times, resonating with audiences both locally and globally.

Mark Dornford-May said, “Mother Courage is one of the greatest anti-war plays ever written, and in this new adaptation, we explore its relevance to communities who have lived through economic hardship, and struggle here in the North East of England. By creating the work in this part of East Durham and through bringing in voices from South Africa’s Isango Ensemble, we have created a production that speaks across borders—one that unearths shared histories of resilience, sacrifice, and endurance.

Lee Hall said: “Mother Courage is one of the most important plays of the 20th century. Brecht forces us to ask urgent questions about war, capitalism, and the price of survival. Combining the North East England context with that of South Africa where people have endured incredible hardship and fought to preserve their identity, brings a fresh and powerful perspective to the story. It’s a privilege to adapt this play for Ensemble ‘84’s first production, working with such an extraordinary company of artists from County Durham and of course one of the great lyrical international theatre companies from  South Africa –   Isango Ensemble.”

Mandisi Dyantisis, Musical Director for Isango Ensemble said – “At its core, Mother Courage is a story about survival—about those caught in forces beyond their control, making impossible choices to keep going. This is something that resonates deeply with our own histories in South Africa, and it is a privilege to bring Isango Ensemble’s voice to this production. Working alongside Ensemble ‘84, we are not just telling a historical story, but drawing powerful connections between past and present, between different struggles across the world. This collaboration is a meeting of cultures, experiences, and artistic traditions, and I believe it will create something truly special for audiences.”

Julia Handelman-Smith, Into the Light Director, said, “This project embodies everything that Into the Light stands for – bringing communities together and strengthening them through bold, socially engaged storytelling. Mother Courage is a play that speaks to the struggles of working people across generations and this adaptation, rooted in East Durham’s mining heritage, makes it all the more powerful. Ensemble ‘84’s collaboration with Isango Ensemble is a testament to the power of international exchange, showing how shared histories of resilience and resistance can be brought to life on stage. We are incredibly proud to support this production and can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”

The cast of Mother Courage and Her Children will be led by Isango Ensemble’s Paulina Malefane in the title role.  She is joined by Julie Ainslie, Mo Aleyasin, Noluthando Boqwana, Eve Booth, Janet Brown, Bryn Chaytor-Wilson, Mia Cummings, Brodie Daniel, Joe Hammal, Wendy Hindmarch, Keith Irons, Stephen Lister, Sophie Moss, Zoleka Mpotsha, Thandolwethu Mzembe, Willow Pearson, Phil Swinburne and Ayanda Tikolo.

Mother Courage and Her Children is written by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Lee Hall and directed by Mark Dornford-May, with musical direction by Mandisi Dyantisis and choreography by Lungelo Ngamlana. Executive producer is Sud Basu.  

More information, including how to book can be seen at Mother Courage and Her Children — Ensemble ‘84