26 May 2010 Packed House Productions, in proud association with Absa, presents the celebrated story of South Africa’s legendary Zulu king, Shaka, in spectacular fashion.

The life and times of Shaka will be brought to the stage for the first time in musical form.  Shaka Zulu – The Musical the world-famous and heroic South African story has been created and produced by South Africans in celebration of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Shaka Zulu –The Musical, featuring an originally created musical score and the cream of South Africa’s performance and production design talent opens at the Drama, State Theatre, Pretoria on 26 June and runs until 18 July 2010.

Written by Samson Khumalo with Sean Else and Deon Opperman, direction by Khumalo and Opperman, and the original music composed by Johan Vorster, the rise and fall of Shaka Zulu is played out in epic style in Shaka Zulu – The Musical.

The musical will feature the costume design of Naledi Award nominee Sarah Roberts, while the South African landscape will be brought to life by set designer Stan Knight (My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, The Magic Flute).  Spectacular theatrical lighting will be provided by innovative lighting designer Gerda Kruger. This award-winning team will ensure that Shaka Zulu-The Musical is a breathtakingly visual experience.

“This is a fast paced show”, says Paul Berning, chief operating officer of Packed House Productions, “we are telling the story of Shaka from birth to death, in two hours flat. It is written in an epic style and although written in English it has the form and musicality of royal Zulu. English is spoken as if they are speaking Zulu”.

The musical is significant as it explores the life of one of Africa’s best known sons, Shaka – the Warrior, the King, the Legend. Shaka was born into a culture in crisis and the musical touches on the important aspects of his political life as well as his life as an ordinary man, revealing the man behind the legend.  It also touches on Shaka’s relationship with his parents, his wife, his brothers and his aunt.  As a young man Shaka joined the amabutho, the part-time national service regiments of Chief Dingiswayo. He was apparently an aggressive young man who found outlet for a lot of pent-up frustrations in fighting. As an adult he was astute, aggressive and ruthless and he went onto dominate the local political rivalries.

Thokozani Nzima, previously seen in The Full Monty and Rent, is cast in the demanding title role of Shaka with Thembalethu Ntuli playing the young Shaka. Others in the cast of brilliant South African vocal and acting talent are Sello Sebotsane as Dingaswayo, chief of Mthethwa and Shaka's mentor, Lindani Nkosi as the Sangoma Narrator, Candida Mosoma, the sensational Mary Magdalene from Jesus Christ Superstar, plays Nandi, Shaka's Mother, Smokey Culayo as Shaka's father and Phumi Mncayi as Dingaan (Shaka's half-brother).
This production has been made possible by the generous support of Absa.

“As a proudly South African financial institution, we’re delighted to pay homage to Shaka Zulu, one of the most powerful and greatest kings and warriors of our time, whose legacy, to this day, still echoes and lives on” says Happy Ntshingila, Absa Executive Director: Group Marketing and Communications.

Don’t miss this spectacular production on stage from 26 June 2010 at the State Theatre, Pretoria. Tickets can be booked at Computicket on 083 915 8000 or www.computicket.com . The show runs Wednesdays to Saturdays at 20h00 and Saturdays at 15h00 and Sundays at 14h00. Ticket prices range from R145 – R245. Discounted block bookings of 20 or more are available.