The world premiere of an exciting brand-new, original gospel opera
The African Passion
Baxter Main Theatre, Cape Town
Thursday 28 March at 8pm
This world premiere brings the Passion of Christ to life in a musical featuring original, innovative gospel-inspired songs. The story is based on the Gospel according to St John and will be a choral masterwork featuring close to a hundred voices on stage in every city. The tour begins in Durban and then moves respectively to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Soweto, Johannesburg, Mafeking and then back to Durban.
Featuring
Bonginkhosi ‘Faca’ Kulu as Jesus
Natalia da Rocha as his mother Mary
Sharon Dee as Mary Magdalene
Grant Jacobs as Simon Peter
Dewaldt Von Solms as Pontius Pilate
Caitlin Kilburn as Pilate’s wife
Blessing Xaba as Caiaphas
Aubrey Lodewyk as Annas
The libretto is written by Themi Venturas and the music is composed by Phelelani Mnomiya (celebrated and award-winning gospel choral composer) Anthony Govender (of Destiny Music) and the Young Mbazo (grandchildren of world-renown accapella group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo) and is the perfect way to celebrate Easter this year.
Under the direction of Themi Venturas the show features Bonginkhosi ‘Faca’ Kulu (The Lion King in New York) as Jesus, Natalia da Rocha (original Natasha in Jimbo) as his mother Mary, Sharon Dee as Mary Magdalene, Grant Jacobs (Durban actor now based in Cape Town) as Simon Peter, Dewaldt Von Solms (of the popular singing duo Von West) as Pontius Pilate, Caitlin Kilburn (remembered for her stellar performance as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha) as Pilate’s wife, Blessing Xaba (seen as Fatty in the movie of John van de Ruit’s Spud) as Caiaphas, Aubrey Lodewyk (last seen in Handel’s Messiah and the Mandela Trilogy) as Annas and a host of other superb singers featuring the isicathamiya group Young Mbazo.
The cast of 21 are supplemented in each centre throughout SA by a 60-strong local choir: the Umlazi Oasis Church Choir and the Clermont Choir in Durban; the Transnet Port Terminals and Bella Voce Choirs in PE; the Shekinah Full Gospel Church Choir in Cape Town; the University of Johannesburg Choir in Soweto and Jo’burg and the Moses Reid Memorial Choir in Mafeking.
The African Passion plays out against a spectacular audio-visual background using the latest in modern AV technology in costumes designed by Nompumelelo Mkhize. Choreography is by Daisy Spencer and vocal direction by Desireé Govender. Bookings are at Computicket throughout SA except for at the Jo’burg theatre – booking is through http://www.joburgtheatre.com/ Jo’burg Theatre ticketing call centre - 0861 670 670
The African Passion is produced by Catalina UnLtd in Durban has been funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
Charities, churches and fundraisers are encouraged to use the show to raise funds for their organisations. Those interested should contact the national sales manager of The African Passion, Ailsa Windsor on 083 250 2690 or editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com.
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