Winnie Khumalo Joins The Ma-Brrr Stage Show
In a brilliant stroke of additional casting, Winnie Khumalo has been included in the Brenda Fassie Musical’s State Theatre run.
The renowned singer and songwriter is now the alternate lead for ‘Ma-Brrr: The Brenda Fassie Musical’, joining Lesego Motsepe in the role of South Africa’s legendary pop icon.
The State Theatre run of the show starts on September 3rd and runs for almost the full month – ending off on Sunday September 26th with a matinee.
Khumalo’s take on Ma-Brr will start on September 11th at 8pm and gives the singer – who is most popularly known for her huge radio hit “Live My Life” – the chance to show her incredible versatility.
Already Motsepe has earned acclaim for her turn as Brenda following a short, tastemaking run in Vereeniging at the start of the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“Now having Winnie on board to share the role is really the cherry on top for us,” says the show’s conceiver, writer and director, Jerry Mofokeng – one of South Africa’s most awarded and accomplished theatre practitioners.
“Like Lesego, Winnie brings an incredible fire and passion to the role – along with one of the best voices in the land – and we are just thrilled to have both these amazing talents on board,” Mofokeng states.
Khumalo (who regularly sells gold and platinum) has in fact already shown her ability to interpret Brenda’s music: in 2009 she delivered a show-stopping performance at the Channel O Video Music Awards with the icon’s son, Bongani before he received a special recognition award on behalf of his late mother. The duo performed ‘Weekend Special’ and ‘Vulindlela’ – two songs that feature in Ma-Brrr.
‘Ma-Brrr’ also features stellar behind-the-scenes mix of talent (including choreographer Themba Nkabinde, Music Director Victor Masondo and script consultant Bongani Madondo). A live band, dancers from Moving Into Dance and Muzi Clive (‘Class Act’) add to the experience.
Jam-packed with Brenda’s hit songs and impeccably scripted, this is musical theatre at its most infectious and truly South Africa.
