Eclectic and electrifying musical hits Joburg Theatre

01 June 2017

 

After a very successful three-year run in Lagos, Nigeria, and Davos in Switzerland, the spectacular and award-winning Nigerian musical Kakadu is coming to the Joburg Theatre, where it will be performed on the Mandela Stage from Wednesday June 7 to Sunday June 18.

 

Kakadu the Musical has been described as an exciting production based on love, conflict, friendship and tragedy.

An inspirational and moving experience that uses Kakadu, the famous nightclub of the 1960s as a backdrop, the musical focuses on this period, which gave birth to wonderful music and the distinctive social life that followed Nigeria’s independence from colonial Britain, the Biafra war and its aftermath.

The story, written and produced by one of Nigeria’s leading lawyers, Uche Nwokedi, revolves around the lives and love interests of four friends from different tribes and backgrounds in Lagos. Kakadu premiered in Lagos in 2013 before moving to Davos, Switzerland.

Kakadu’s captivating storyline blends spectacular dance and a bit of Anglo-American soul and pop music of the 1950s and 1960s that influenced expressions in highlife, Afrobeat and traditional Nigerian folk music.

The Vanguard newspaper describes Kakadu as “the most wonderfully eclectic musical ever performed anywhere. A unique must-see, must-experience production”.
Tickets range from R90 to R350. Across town in Jabulani, the Soweto Theatre will host Africa Umoja The Spirit of Togetherness from June 14 to June 25.

The pulsating musical celebrates South Africa in song and dance – from the intricate steps of gumboot dancing, foot-stomping Sophiatown jazz to heavenly gospel sounds and energetic kwaito. Africa Umoja is a joyous celebration of dynamic talent, thrilling energy and great voices. After all these years, creators Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni’s productions continue to wow audiences. Tickets cost R100 per person.