When the curtain rises on the production of MADIBA the Musical at Warrnambool’s Lighthouse Theatre on Thursday night, it will mark the start of a national celebration.
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The six month Australia-wide tour is set to honour the life of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, who would have turned 100 in July this year.
The show will be the production’s premiere and the first time the French musical will be performed in English.
Interwoven with stories of the fight against apartheid and forbidden love in a troubled land, the two-and-a-half hour show features African dance, song and theatre.
Lighthouse Theatre service manager Amanda Kenneally said hosting the internationally-acclaimed musical was a coup for Warrnambool.
“We are very excited to be able to host the first ever Australian performance of the show,” she said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to see a world class performance without having to travel to Melbourne.”
Cast member Australian actor and singer Tim ‘Timomatic’ Omaji said he was looking forward to starting the tour in the south-west.
“I’ve been to Warrnambool once or twice on a schools visit,” he said. “But its been quite a few years.”
“I’ve heard a rumour that you guys have incredible whale-watching, hopefully they don’t get shy when we get there.”
“I’ve heard beautiful things about Warrnambool so I can’t wait.”
Mr Omaji plays the part of Sam Onatou.
“Sam is an activist,” he said.
“He goes from really fighting hard for the cause of black people in South Africa and protesting and ends up in jail for six years.
“He’s jailed in the same place as Nelson Mandela.
“He learns the way of peaceful protest in jail and he comes out a reformed man still with the fight, but a different way of fighting which is through peace and unity.
“It’s really an amazing plot.
“Sam is a fictional character but he represents the feelings and the angst of the people in the real world at that time.”
Mr Omaji said translating the musical into English presented its own set of challenges.
“I love challenges,” he said.
“I love things that stretch me and that I feel will have positive impact on society and on community and this musical has both.
“And to sing and dance and act, all in one, that’s how you challenge yourself.”
MADIBA the Musical – a Celebration of the Life of Nelson Mandela will plat at the Lighthouse Theatre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
