The Star: January 24, 2019

26
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday January 24 2019
Theatre/Arts
Local
News
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The Star
Fire rages, homes at risk
Actor’s connection to Mandela’s fight
• By Georgia O’Connor-Harding
PLAYING A lead role in a hit
musical celebrating the life of
visionary leader Nelson Mandela
is a “powerful” and “poignant”
moment in Barry Conrad’s
accomplished career.
Born in Cape Town, his
parents were caught up “right
in the thick” of apartheid times
– with his mother being of
German Indonesian descent and
his father South African English.
Conrad, who spent his teens
in Auckland, will be travelling
to the city to portray the
character William Xulu, who is
one half of an inter-racial couple
in Madiba the Musical, running
from February 14-17, at the Isaac
Theatre Royal.
He said the show hits home the
struggle of his own parents.
His mother, who attended
protests and rallies, was even
chased down the street by a
policeman with a baton and had
to jump over a fence onto a train
to escape.
The internationally acclaimed
show portrays the life of the late
Mandela and his fight against
apartheid.
Mandela spent 27 years in
prison for fighting racist white
rule and became South Africa’s
FORBIDDEN LOVE: Barry Conrad as William Xulu and Madeline Perrone as Helena in
Madiba the Musical. Tim Omaji (right) plays the role of Sam Onatou, a young activist who is
arrested in South Africa.. ​
first black president in 1994,
serving one five-year term.
The show marks 25 years since
the abolition of apartheid in
South Africa.
“When I hear my parents talk
about it I can’t believe it was a
reality. It is actually crazy. Could
you imagine going down the
street, not being able to visit a
certain cinema, not being able
to sit in a certain seat, not being
able to date a certain person just
because of the colour of your
skin,” he said.
Conrad said while times
have changed, racism still “rears
its ugly head” – not only in
South Africa but all over the
world.
Currently based in Australia,
Conrad shares a connection
to the city having co-written
music for former boy band
Moorhouse, which was formed
in Christchurch in 2012.
The band was best known for
their appearance in X Factor
New Zealand in 2013, where they
finished fourth place.
Conrad said the city has “so
much character” and loved the
former container mall which
closed last year.
He has been back several
times to perform at the Coca-
Cola Christmas in the Park and
previously toured the city with
former singing/dance groups
Jireh made up of music artists
Ginny Blackmore, Vince Harder
and Bella Kalolo.
Conrad has led an exciting
career working and writing
for artists including Guy
Sebastian, Stan Walker as
well as opening for his
“idol” American singersongwriter
Brian McKnight.
Growing up, Conrad said
Mandela gave him hope he
could make something of
himself.
“I just loved that he always
looked forward, he always had
faith that things could change,”
he said.
•Madiba the Musical will
run at the Isaac Theatre
Royal from February 14-
17. To book tickets go to
https://isaactheatreroyal.
co.nz
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