Cape Town Opera

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 one of the world’s most iconic figures.

The amazing life of Nelson Mandela is brought vividly to the stage by Cape Town Opera in a large-scale celebration and tribute to the man who touched hearts and minds around the world.

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 by two different composers each Act is in stark contrast to the others, but with an over-arching dramatic theme that shines a light on the life of an extraordinary man.