Chumisa Dornford-May
Chumisa Dornford-May | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002/2003 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Alma mater | Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Father | Mark Dornford-May |
Chumisa Dornford-May (born 2002/2003) is a South African and British actress. Known for her work in musical theatre, she received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Early life
[edit]Dornford is the daughter of English theatre director Mark Dornford-May and South African opera performer Pauline Malefane. She attended Herschel Girls' School[1] in Cape Town and trained as a classical singer from age 9. Offered a place at Edinburgh's St Mary's Music School, Dornford-May instead relocated to Chester in 2018, where she pursued A Levels in English literature, Music and Performing arts at Christleton High School and joined On The Mark Youth Theatre (OTMYT).[2][3] She won the Elaine Paige scholarship to study at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, graduating in 2023.[4]
Career
[edit]Upon graduating from drama school, Dornford-May made her West End debut in the ensemble of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love for its 2023 revival at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.[5] Later in the year, she played the Mistress in Evita at the Curve in Leicester.[6] She also understudied Martha Kirby in the titular role. For her performance, Dornford-May won a UK Theatre Award.
In early 2024, Dornford-May Dornford-May featured as Wednesday Addams in the London Palladium concert of The Addams Family with Ramin Karimloo[7] and joined The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre on the West End, alternating as Christine Daaé with lead actress Lily Kerhoas.[8] She then starred as Natasha Rostova in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 for its London premiere at Donmar Warehouse.[9][10] For her performance in the latter, Dornford-May was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
As of May 2025, Dornford-May is playing the role of Fritz in Stephen Sondheim's Here We Are at the National Theatre.[11]
Stage
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Aspects of Love | Ensemble (u/s Jenny) |
Lyric Theatre, West End |
| 2023–2024 | Evita | Mistress
(u/s Eva Peron) |
Curve, Leicester |
| 2024 | The Addams Family | Wednesday Addams | London Palladium, West End |
| The Phantom of the Opera | Christine Daaé (alternate) | His Majesty's Theatre, West End | |
| 2024–2025 | Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 | Natasha Rostova | Donmar Warehouse, London |
| 2025 | Here We Are | Fritz | National Theatre, London |
| 2025-2026 | Into the Woods | Cinderella | Bridge Theatre, London |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UK Theatre Awards | Best Supporting Performance (in a Play or a Musical) | Evita | Won | [12] |
| 2025 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actress in a Musical | Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 | Nominated | [13] |
References
[edit]- ^ Lochhead, Hayley (November 2021). "Valedictory Address" (PDF). The Herschelian 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Barnett, Jonathon (17 August 2020). "Chester: Youth theatre member lands a scholarship at top drama school". The Standard. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ "Chumisa Dornford-May". On the Mark Youth Theatre. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ "Chumisa Dornford-May, Recipient of the Elaine Paige Scholarship for Musical Theatre 2022/23". Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ "Cast – Lyric Theatre". Aspects of Love. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Young, Tom (7 December 2023). "Reviewed: Evita at Curve". Niche Magazine. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Darvill, Josh (14 February 2024). "See photos from The Addams Family concert in West End". Stageberry. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (11 March 2024). "West End The Phantom of the Opera to Welcome Chumisa Dornford-May". Playbill. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (17 October 2024). "Declan Bennett, Chumisa Dornford-May, Jamie Muscato, and More Will Lead UK Premiere of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Chumisa Dornford-May, Actor". Donmar Warehouse. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ "Chumisa Dornford-May in Here We Are". West End Theatre. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Wood, Alex (20 October 2024). "UK Theatre Awards 2024 winners announced". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Wiegand, Chris (2025-03-04). "Fiddler on the Roof up for 13 Olivier awards and Romola Garai nominated twice in same category". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
External links
[edit]- Living people
- 2000s births
- Actresses from Cape Town
- Actresses from Chester
- Alumni of Herschel Girls' School
- Black British actresses
- English musical theatre actresses
- English people of South African descent
- Sotho people
- South African musical theatre actresses
- South African people of English descent
- People educated at Christleton High School