AN epic production detailing the life of one of the world's most iconic figures comes to Southampton in September.

Cape Town Opera are set to follow their 2012 Mayflower Theatre Porgy and Bess visit with the brand new Mandela Trilogy.

The show, which runs from September 7 to 10, boasts three acts, two composers a Company of 60 plus and three actors portraying Nelson Mandela in his different life stages.

The show is a direct result of football following the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, artist director Michael Williams told the Daily Echo.

“Exactly what does a company do when the whole world is on your doorstep?!” The piece originally called African Songbook toured Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2010 to great success. Michael then revisited the piece and worked with Wales Millennium Centre to perform the show in Cardiff, now called Mandela Trilogy in June 2012.

Michael explains the idea of a trilogy- taking audiences into his unknown early life, then through the heady and rebellious jazz fuelled days in Sophiatown and finally the low times he had in prison on Robben Island.

“The notion of power of three (three musketeers, structure of three), the triad, is a well-tested literary medium which lent itself to the structure of the piece.

"The first act is opera, the second is in a more musicals style and the third returns to a powerful contemporary opera. Having three singers representing Mandela gives you a composite idea of his whole life.

The former South African leader's release from prison is a particular highlight of the show.

Michael continues: “Mandela was imprisoned for 10,000 days – that is 27 years, imagine being locked up for that amount of time and not seeing how the world has progressed outside the jail cell. When he came out he had to be introduced to modern life – from mobile phones and new technology to how you open a can of coke."

Mandela Trilogy has proved such a success that even his family have got in on the act.

“Mandela’s daughter came to see the show, she came backstage afterwards and spoke to the Company, she told us that Nelson would sit around the dinner table and tell the family about the old days, and what she had just witnessed on the stage were her memories of his descriptions made real, she was very moved with the show.”

Audiences are in for a treat he promises.

“If you came to see Porgy and Bess, you are going to see the same energy, commitment and enthusiasm. And the same amount of vocal power. It showcases the company, the cast and their commitment to the story. You are going to walk out of the theatre with a smile on your face having seen something very special.”

Tickets for Mandela Trilogy are on sale now from 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk