MADIBA | Nelson Mandela Lead Announced

South African Star Announced in Nelson Mandela Role

MADIBA Opens Melbourne October 3

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MELBOURNE: Wed Oct 3rd @ 7pm  //  SYDNEY: Thurs Nov 1st @ 7:30pm // PERTH: Wed Jan 2nd @ 7pm  // ADELAIDE: Thurs Jan 17th @ 7:30pm // ENTER NOW!

Following an extensive international search, creators of the compelling new stage show MADIBA The Musical, have announced Perci Moeketsi will play the role of Nelson Mandela.

The South African star of stage, television and film, Perci Moeketsi, dared to dream the impossible, encouraged by Mandela’s own words: “It is impossible until it’s done.”

From a very humble background where a career in the arts was considered nothing but a hobby for a black child, Perci says he’s pinching himself that he’ll soon be portraying his hero and on an international platform.

“It is beyond a dream come true,” beams the triple threat from Pretoria, the South African city where Mandela was both imprisoned and later inaugurated as President — so fitting that a star from this area is chosen for the pivotal role.

MADIBA The Musical producer Neil Croker said “After an extensive search, we are very pleased to add such an authentic and believable actor as Perci Moeketsi to the exciting line up of talented singers, actors and dancers now confirmed for MADIBA The Musical.”

MADIBA, which celebrates the life of the former South African leader, who would have turned 100 in July this year, is interwoven with stories of the fight against apartheid and forbidden love in a troubled land. The show premieres in Melbourne in October and will tour to Sydney, Canberra Perth and Adelaide

Perci joins Tim Omaji, Tarisai Vushe, Blake Erickson, Madeline Perrone, Barry Conrad, Ruva Ngwenya, David Denis along with  Courtney Bell and Riley Sutton to star in this energetic and compelling new stage show. READ ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE CAST HERE IN OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLE

African dance and vocal traditions are given a contemporary setting alongside eternal love songs and stirring anthems in a show that tells of Mandela’s lifework as a lawyer and activist for peace through the story of young artist Will, who is the victim of apartheid in South Africa.

MADIBA The Musical  began its journey in France with its world premiere at Le Comedia Theatre in Paris in January 2016.

Popular Australian Actor and singer, Tim Omaji, also known by stage name Timomatic, plays the role of Sam Onatou, a young black activist who is arrested in South Africa. In prison he meets the man known as “Madiba”, Nelson Mandela.

Tarisai Vushe plays Sam’s fiancée Sandy who works for the family of a white policeman, Peter Van Leden, played by Sydney actor Blake Erickson. 

Madeline Perrone plays the policeman’s daughter Helena, who Sandy asks to help free Mandela. Barry Conrad, Sandy’s younger brother William, falls in love with Helena. As a fictional parallel story to Mandela’s work as a lawyer and activist for peace, the romance between young artist Will and white Afrikaans girl Helena tells of the struggle and tragedy of the apartheid regime.

Following her performance as Shirelles lead singer Shirley Owens in the successful national touring production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ruva Ngwenya plays the role of Winnie Mandela.

With music and Lyrics by Jean-Pierre Hadida and book by Jean-Pierre Hadida and Alicia Sebrien, English co-adaptors Dylan Hadida and Dennis Watkins, MADIBA The Musical Australian Production will be directed by Pierre-Yves Duchesne and associate director Dennis Watkins with musical direction by Michael Tyack and choreography by Johan Nus.

Sebrien and Hadida said that in creating MADIBA The Musical , they wanted to tell the story of Mandela’s pursuit of peace and reconciliation in his homeland. They said the musical was also timed to mark 25 years since the abolition of apartheid in South Africa, and the year that Mandela would have turned 100 if he was still alive.

MADIBA THE MUSICAL

Melbourne
Comedy Theatre
3-21 October
Bookings:  www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100

Sydney
State Theatre
From November 1
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au  or 136 100

Canberra
Canberra Theatre Centre
November 22-24
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au  or 136 100

Warnambool
Lighthouse Theatre
November 27-29
Bookings: www.lighthousetheatre.com.au

Perth
Crown Theatre
January 2-12, 2019
Join Waitlist: madibamusical.com.au/au-tickets

Adelaide
Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre
January 17-20, 2019
Join Waitlist: madibamusical.com.au/au-tickets

madibamusical.com.au

WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:

BIO | PERCI MOEKETSI

Perci Moeketsi is a Musical Theatre performer and graduate from Hammanskraal – North of the City of Tshwane (Pretoria). His appearance in Top Actor SA helped him gain early television exposure. He was part of Africa’s 1st dance film and international award nominated Hear Me Move.

Theatre has always been his true passion. His first role of note was for a community theatre musical called Rorisang and Julie, a township adaptation of Romeo and Juliet where he played lead Rorisang (Romeo). This drew the attention of the Tshwane University of Technology and assisted in his acceptance and enrolment in the Musical Theatre program at the age of 26.

His most recent theatre performance was in Gospel Spectacular as choir lead and ensemble at the Joburg Theatre. He has also performed in the South African State Theatre in shows such as Fire: A dance show and Fok-Fok The Musical as lead antagonist. He also performed for 2 years (2016-2017) for the pantomime company: Pretoria Youth Theatre in Centurion playing lead roles in shows such as Pied Piper, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, etc…

Other appearances in TV include SA’s Got Talent with his dance group: Forefront Dance Crew and appearing with the choir he was conducting on Dumisa (Praise). Perci also enjoys writing his own stories, directing, choreography and song writing with rapping being one of his fortes. Motivational speaking and community development is also at the heart of his work, being from an unforgiving humble background, he understands the plight of a lot of the children.