Musical Theatre Production, LIFTED-Let the Blind Sing, returns for 2nd season!

In many different ways, blind people are excluded from participating in various industries globally. This is evident in how only a minority of the masses pay attention to their talents. Such has created a hindering towards this marginalised group from reaching their full potential.

A significant number of blind people are used to a life of confinement, which isolates them from the outside world.

Zakhele Mabena aims to change the narrative for blind people. He produced a musical theatre production titled, LIFTED- Let the Blind Sing.

Better known as Mr Pro, Mabena grew up in Soshanguve and is the founder of Arts in Motion Music Academy.

“I grew up loving music to a point where I would make my own musical instruments with used cans,” added Mr Pro.

Lifted-Let the Blind Sing was created with the intention of embracing, creating awareness, and promoting musical artists living with disabilities. The show started playing at the South African State Theatre from August 2nd and will end on August 27th.

Zakhele Mabena is a Naledi Theatre Award recipient, a music producer and a proficient theatre director. He formed part of productions like Marikana the Musical, Shaka Zulu: The gaping wound and Isambulo: The Musical, to name a few.

“I believe it is important that more productions are inclusive of artists with disabilities and their talents deserve to be showcased on the big stages,” said Mabena.

However, Mabena says it should not be a matter of pity or compulsion, rather an intentional process to change the status quo of the music industry in relation to artists with disabilities. He added that music is a universal language that should be sung by all without any discrimination and that is exactly what Lifted is about.

Zakhele believes in equal provision of opportunities for all artists. Some artists living with disabilities depend on busking on street corners and should have access to mainstream ways of performing. The musical play is a powerful and physical exploration of the testimonies of persons living with disabilities who use poetry and music to educate and engage their audience about their daily realities as persons with disabilities.

The various music genres in the play include hymns and protest songs about the killings of persons with Albinism. The play is currently on stage, at the South African State Theatre. It includes mainstream artists living with disabilities like Tshepo Nkadimeng who opened the play with his story of being born to blind parents. Nkadimeng is a successful radio actor on the drama series, Mahlakung, on Thobela FM.

On stage, Nkadimeng is joined by Ga-Rankuwa Requester – a sextet of talented blind musical artists. They however do not come alone, as they are accompanied by Lekae Combrinck-Nawa. He is a theatre actor and a multimedia artist with a disability. He won the hearts of many with his story of being denied access to a higher learning institution because of his disability to becoming an alumni of the institution.

Other cast members include Willie Matsemela, a self-taught guitar player; and Bongani Khoza, a blind young man who is a gospel singer and theatre actor in the production. Sebenzile ‘’Sebeh’’ Kuzwayo, a music diploma graduate of the UKZN and 2005 National Arts Festival Makhanda participant, and lead vocalist for the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz.

Maira Skosana is a nominated Gospel singer who has travelled alongside internationally acclaimed gospel singer, Tebs Davids. Award-winning singer, Nhlanhla Dube, who has acted in the renowned musical concert Isikhumbuzo – A Tribute to Busi Mhlongo narrates the play.

The show is suitable for the entire family and is narrated in English. It has additional languages like Setswana and IsiZulu. Tickets are available for R150 online at Webticket. Alternatively, they may be found at the South African State Theatre box office, or Pick n Pay nationwide.

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