A MUSICAL tribute to one of the world's most iconic figures is on stage at Mayflower Theatre next week.
The amazing life of Nelson Mandela is brought vividly to the stage by Cape Town Opera in Mandela Trilogy, a large-scale celebration and tribute to the man who touched hearts and minds around the world.
From tribal initiation rites on the banks of the Mbashe River, through the heady and rebellious jazz-fuelled days in Sophiatown; to incarceration and reflection on Robben Island and finally beyond, to freedom - this is the story of his incredible life.
Told in three parts, by a cast of over 60 South African performers, the music and story match the vastly different phases of Mandela’s journey from freedom fighter to president.
The upbeat jazz and swing-influenced songs of Sophiatown in the central section of the piece are framed on either side by musical styles more familiar in contemporary opera - with a dash of authentic Xhosa folk music that grounds the production in its African roots.
Written and directed by Michael Williams with music by Peter Louis van Dijk and Mike Campbell, the show was a smash hit during its debut at Wales Millennium Centre.
Cape Town Opera performed a critically acclaimed version of Porgy and Bess in Southampton in 2012.
Tickets for Mandela Trilogy are available by calling 023 8071 1811 or online at mayflower.org.uk
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