Mike Downey

Jump to content // Jump to navigation


Theatre

A graduate in Theatre Studies from the University of Warwick as well as being the holder of a Diplôme d’études théâtrales from the Université de Paris III (Sorbonne Nouvelle), Mike began his career in the theatre whilst working on his (unfinished) doctorate at Universite de Paris X (Nanterre) where he wrote his Master’s thesis while teaching at theatre school at the Théâtre des Amandiers – Nanterre – under Patrice Chereau. From there he joined the UK’s National Student Theatre Company for a season with Nicolas Broadhurst, Declan Donellan and Simon Stokes.

While working in Paris, Mike met with French author Jean Genet who after a series of meetings agreed that Bernard Frechtman’s translation of Genet’s early work Haute Surveillance was not up to scratch and via his agent Paule Thevenin, gave permission for a new translation to be written by Downey for the Edinburgh Festival. Subsequently to that Downey wrote and performed a one man show In Search of Artaud for the French Institute at the Edinburgh Festival in, which transferred to the Gate Theatre in London.

Stints at the Atelje 212 in Belgrade, the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry as well as the touring company Bac To Bac Theatre which was the UK’s only TIE company performing in French led to Downey’s departure for Munich where he directed a wide variety of theatre the Gasteig Kulturzentrum, the Munchner Kammerspeiele, the Studiotheater im Fuchsbau, Studiotheater auf der Alabama, the Theater Rechts der Isar and the Studiotheater.

He directed the European Premiere of South African stage hit Woza Albert by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon in Munich, which toured for the next two years around Germany and Europe. Over a six year period Downey directed and produced over dozen plays ranging from the World Premiere of Dalt Wonk’s New Orleans musical play about slavery in the deep South A Bitter Glory at the Gasteig Kulturzentrum; Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane, Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. 

While in Munich he adapted Raymond Chandler’s novel and Howard Hawk’s film into a two man show performed at the Theater Rechts der Isar to huge critical acclaim the play going on to run for over a year.

Mike’s current involvement in theatre is limited to his work with the Isango Ensemble in the Khayelitsha Township near Cape Town. From the beginning the company has drawn its performers from the previously disadvantaged townships surrounding the city. Isango creates performances with a strong South African flavour by re-imagining Western theatre classics within a South African or township setting and by creating new work reflecting South African heritage. Mike is part of the international board of Isango and has worked with Golden Bear winning director Mark Dornford May and musical director Pauline Malefane on a number of award winning films including Breathe – Umphefumlo an adaptation of Puccini’s La Boheme; Son of Man which premiered in Sundance in and Berlinale competition entry Noye’s Fludde – Unogumbe made to celebrate Benjamin Britten’s centenary.


Our site uses cookies for social networks connections, better overall site performance & awesome user experience. Do you agree with use of cookies?

Find out more

Cookies on our web page

About cookies

Cookies are short text files that are sent from a website and stored on user’s computer, smartphone or any other device accessing websites through the Internet. They can be used to collect information on how users browse a website, and can thus adapt the contents of the website to users’ interests when they browse the same website in the future, ensuring the best user experience. A cookie usually contains a string of letters and numbers that is stored on user’s computer when they visit a certain website. Each time the user visits the website, the latter is notified of the stored cookie, thereby enabling recognition of the user.

The use of cookies on the Internet has been commonplace for quite some time. More information on cookies can be found at www.aboutcookies.org, including instructions on how to delete them.

Types of cookies

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies let you move around the website and use its essential features. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for (e.g. registration, shopping activities, safety, etc.) will not function.

Performance cookies

These cookies collect information on how visitors use a website with the purpose of improving their user experience (for instance, which pages visitors go to most often, etc.). These cookies do not collect information that identifies a visitor.

Functionality cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember your settings and choices you make (user name, language, region, etc.) and provide enhanced, personalised features. These cookies may track your actions on the website.

Targeting cookies

Tracking cookies are related to third-party services (e.g. advertising and social networks), such as the ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ buttons. These cookies may track your actions on the website. They are managed and hosted by third parties.

Cookies on this website


 

Cookie name Author Purpose
bcms_cookie_accepted
bcms_cookie_declined
Mike Downey These cookies record your choice regarding the use of cookies on our website.
bcmsPopUp Mike Downey This cookie records the time the notification was displayed on the website (pop-up window).
di
dt
psc
uid
uit
uvc
siteaud
ana_svc
atuvc
user_token
...
AddThis These cookies are set by AddThis social plugin.
AddThis privacy policy / Opt-out of AddThis
__utma
__utmz
SID
LOGIN_INFO
use_hotbox
PREF
SSID
HSID
watched_video_id_list
demographics
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
...
YouTube These cookies are set by YouTube video player.
Types of cookies used by Google
__qca
__utma
__utmz
__utmv
__utmb
clip_id
home_active_tab
uid
v6f
utmc
aka_debug
...
Vimeo These cookies are set by Vimeo video player.
Vimeo privacy policy / Vimeo cookie policy

Cookie management

Cookies are stored and managed by the browser used by the user. The browser may limit cookie storage or disable it. Cookies stored by the browser may be deleted – for more information visit www.aboutcookies.org. Your decision regarding the use of cookies on this website can be changed at any time by clicking on the link Cookies.

Website management

Website Mike Downey.