DUMLE KOGBARA
Humanitas-Culture was founded as an International cultural production company in 2008, by its Artistic Director, Dumle Kogbara(Writer-Director-Producer). Redolent of the renaissance and modern, Humanitas-Culture is committed to International film, opera, theatre, writing and cultural events. Its aim is to provide an excellent platform for emerging artists and promote culture as a transformative experience.
Dumle was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria on 22 July 1966 and came to the UK as a two year old in 1968 because of the Nigerian civil war.His family were on the Biafran side. His father was the Biafran Special Representative to the UK and Europe. His childhood was mainly spent in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. He later attended the International School, Ibadan, Nigeria and DownsideSchool, Bath, UK. He then attended Imperial College London(Civil Engineering) and later LondonUniversity(Philosophy),with a special interest in Aesthetics(The Nature and Value of Art and the Philosophy of Music). In 2006 he studied Theatre Directing under the maverick Russian director,Victor Sobchak(Who had been imprisoned by the KGB) of Act Provocateur International, at The Lion and Unicorn Theatre in KentishTown, North London.
In 2007 he became Resident Director at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre. He directed twenty one productions at the theatre. His many critically acclaimed productions included Chekhov’s Three Sisters and stage adaptations of the Ingmar Bergman films, Persona, The Silence, Autumn Sonata and Scenes From a Marriage. In May/June 2007 he attended the Prague International Theatre Festival and played the role of Jesus Christ in an adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s First Love. He has also acted in a stage adaptation of the Fellini film, Orchestra Rehearsal, in which he played the Conductor.
In December 2007 he won the Best Director award at The Solo Performance Festival held at the theatre. His final project at the theatre was producing (Inaugural production of Humanitas-Culture) and hosting an African Theatre Festival(The Tragedy and Hope of a Continent) in which he directed Aeschylus’s Agamemnon set in West Africa, with an all black cast, and a double bill of Athol Fugard’s The Island and Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act, both set in apartheid South Africa.
In March 2009Humanitas-Culture began a series of staged Opera Scenes, directed by himself .The first, being scenes from the three Mozart/Da Ponte Operas(Seductive Vignettes) at Steinway Hall in central London followed by another productionin June/July 2009 at The University Women’s Club in Mayfair, London. In January and March 2010, Humanitas-Culture produced art song recitals, themed Transfigured Night, inspired by Arnold Schoenberg.
In 2011, Dumle will also be working on literary and film projects as writer and director.
Please visit: Reviews of Dumle Kogbara(On this Website)
Some Productions
Stage
MOZART & DON JUAN (adaption from Pushkin’s Little Tragedies)2006
PERSONA (stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman Film) 2007
THE SILENCE (stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman Film) 2007
WOYZECK (Buchner) 2007
LA RONDE (Schnitzler) 2007
FIGARO (after da Ponte/Beaumarchais by Carrie Fewins) 2007
BLOOD WEDDING (Lorca) 2007
TWO MONOLOGUES (Dario Fo) 2007
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman Film) 2008
AUTUMN SONATA (stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman Film) 2008
THE LOVER (Pinter) 2008
DEATH AND THE MAIDEN (Dorfman)
THREE SISTERS (Chekhov) 2008
8 WOMEN ( stage adaptation of Francois Ozon Film) 2008
Opera Scenes
SEDUCTIVE VIGNETTES (Mozart/Da Ponte) 2009
Scenes from Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte and Le Nozze di Figaro
Happenings
CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY 2009
Ecstasy: Beethoven
Ecstasy: Rilke and Hopkins
CHARMED NIGHT 2010
Chopin Scherzos,Nocturnes and selected Poetry
Themed Art Songs
TRANSFIGURED NIGHT2010