Mandela Tickets
About Mandela
Learn how the South African president and political figure Nelson Mandela changed society in the world premiere of Mandela at the Young Vic.
Nelson Mandela was the first Black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Prior to his premiership, he spent 27 years in jail, notably at Robben Island. Mandela and South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk negotiated the end of apartheid in the early 1990s, resulting in a joint Nobel Prize for Peace.
The Mandela musical details late 20th-century politics in South Africa, and how it impacted global politics. The show starts in 1960 at the Sharpeville massacre, a national tragedy that saw 249 unarmed South Africans killed or injured as they protested against their country’s apartheid laws. Two years later, Mandela is arrested and sentenced to life in prison, but the world continues to fight for him. It isn't until 1990 that he's released and duly elected the first Black president of a new South Africa.
Follow the extraordinary story of a man who changed modern history.
Access Performances
BSL Performance: Tue 13 Dec 2022 & Thu 12 Jan 2023, 7.30pm
Audio Described Performance: Mon 19 Dec, Tue 10 & Tue 24 Jan 2023, 7.30pm, with a Touch Tour at 6pm
Captioned Performance: Thu 15 Dec & Thu 5 Jan 2023, 7.30pm
Socially Distanced Performance: Wed 21 Dec 2022, 7.30pm
Relaxed Performance: Wed 4 Jan 2023, 7.30pm
Categories
Age
14+ recommended
Start date
29th November, 2022
End date
4th February, 2023
Mandela cast and creative team
By: Laiona Michelle
Music: Greg Dean Borowsky, Shaun Borowsky, Bongi Duma
Director: Schele Williams
Cast list: Gregory Armand, Zion Battles, Earl Carpenter, Stewart Clarke, Hanna Dimtsu, Danielle Fiamanya, Lerato Gwebu, Prudence Jezile, Akmed Junior Khemalai, Michael Luwoye, Blue Makwana, Kayleigh McKnight, Posi Morakinyo, Sneziey Msomi, Nomfusi Ngonyama, Ryan O’Donnell, Adam Pearce, Botlhale Phora, Shiv Rabheru, Will Richardson, Leanne Robinson and Ntsikelelo Nicholas Vani
Choreography: Gregory Maqoma
Set: Hannah Beachler
Costume: Fay Fullerton
Lighting: Jon Clark
Sound: Paul Gatehouse
Venue
Directions
Location: Fringe/Off West End
Railway station: Waterloo
Bus numbers: Pocock Street (Stop V) 40, 63
Car park: National Car Park Ltd
More information about Mandela
After seven years of development, including concerts at Lincoln Center Theater in New York in 2018, Mandela now premieres in London. Expect to hear the traditional rhythms of South Africa throughout the musical, down to original music by South African composers Greg Dean Borowsky and Shaun Borowsky.
The Mandela musical will be sung through. When director Schele Williams spoke to The Guardian, she revealed that, as everyone know what Mandela speaks like, “The way to make Mandela navigate the world on stage in a believable way was to change the way we hear him." Hear the leader's call in this high-spirited musical.
What to Watch For:
- Michael Luwoye originates the role of Nelson Mandela. He’s no stranger to portraying leading political figures — he played the titular founding father in Hamilton on Broadway.
- Mandela’s granddaughter, Nandi Mandela, and his great-grandson, Luvuyo Madasa, are both involved with the production.
- The Mandela choreographer Gregory Maqoma grew up in Soweto, South Africa. He’s channelling his childhood into fiery, spirited movement.
- 21 March is a public holiday in South Africa to commemorate events in Sharpeville in 1960.
Tickets
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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