Troika is looking for a cast for Sarafina!, the South African musical that became a worldwide hit.

The show will run as Work in Progress #8 under the direction of Nhlanhla “Lucky” Ngema, who performed in the original production written by his brother, Mbongeni.

Troika will hold auditions for actors, singers and dancers next Friday. Previous experience is not necessary.

“It's basically an open call,” said Seldon Woolridge. “We really just want to see what talent is out there. Part of the work in progress experience is we like to see raw talent; we like to have them come be a part of the programme and develop them.

“I know with auditions a lot of people get very apprehensive and nervous but the point of the programme is to take our talent and develop it and prepare them for the stage. We don't want people to feel intimidated and not come out and audition.”

For singers especially, the show is a big opportunity because vocal training will be provided.

“It’s going to be a very interesting training because the cast will have to learn to speak in a language and sing in a language that's not their native tongue. So that's going to be an interesting process as well,” Mr Woolridge said.

Sarafina! follows South African students involved in the 1976 Soweto riots in opposition to apartheid. It first ran in Johannesburg in 1987 and premiered on Broadway the following year. The musical was adapted into a film by the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg in 1992.

“After the nice run on Broadway, I think it was about two to three years, then we embarked on a US tour for a year and then another long tour in Europe for two or three years,” said Mr Ngema, who also performed for ten years as part of the original production of The Lion King on Broadway.

Back in South Africa he directed several shows; one of his more recent was a production of Sarafina! in 2019.

“I come from a family of artists. The person that wrote and directed the original Sarafina! is my brother. And my other brother, may his soul rest in peace, he did a lot of work here in South Africa and abroad.

“So as a family, we always had that. Growing up, I looked up to them and I knew that one day I would step my foot on the international stage.”

Despite that, none of them expected Sarafina! would resonate with so many audiences.

“When we started it was all about the struggle of the time. Sarafina! was just part of the street life that we used to live before we got on stage. It tells the story of the reality of the life that we lived before we actually took part in Sarafina!”

In 2019, Mr Woolridge reached out to Mr Ngema about Sarafina!, which was then on show in Johannesburg.

“He was interested in knowing more about myself and the work that I do. And all the conversations led to me being interested in directing Sarafina! in Bermuda. I think it's such a groundbreaking experience. I think that it will be very fruitful for the community for us to present this kind of work; the authenticity of it.

“Sarafina obviously resonates more with people all over the world in the diaspora, people all over Africa, but it has such a universal message that it is appealing not only to Black people but to everyone in the world.”

Having already explored some of the islands in the Caribbean, Mr Ngema is “really looking forward” to his trip here next summer.

“I love talent. Here in South Africa I also have an academy, where I train young people. So when I see an abundance of talent that really inspires me to work even harder because I am also that product. We were singing in schools and in church halls when we were young and someone came and identified talent in us. So I've kept on doing that all my life. To grow talent for me, it's like a calling. I really love doing that.”

Sarafina! was a show that Troika “always wanted to do at some point”. Once a connection was made with Mr Ngema, the hope was to put it on stage in 2021 but the pandemic forced a change of plans.

“From a social standpoint at the time, we felt that it was timely for a show like Sarafina! given the storyline. And when it comes to a show like Sarafina! you really want to ensure that if you're going to do it, you're going to present it in an authentic way,” Mr Woolridge said.

“It was important for me to do the research to find the necessary creative that could support us in presenting it in a real, authentic way so that it wasn’t just a performance but a transformational experience for the crew and anyone associated with the production as well as the audiences.”

He continued: “It's a show that so many people are familiar with the storyline – the movie, the soundtrack, or seeing the Broadway play. And I knew that it was something that would resonate well with our community and that it would be a worthwhile experience for our community to be exposed to.”

With the help of the lead choreographer, Bermudian Carling Ray, the show will run next August. Mr Ngema will travel to Bermuda in advance. His wife, Keeloz, who is “trained in teaching in different languages” will lead workshops to help the performers with their Zulu.

“We want them to get the feel of what it is like. How it was in 1976 when all this happened. It is going to be an extensive workshop but it will be worth it because when they get it, when they begin to understand it, that’s when they will begin to run with the script and the music and everything,” he said.

“But in the script there is a lot of English. There’s only a few solos here and there – songs that are in a different language other than English. I don't think it would be difficult for them to grasp it at all.”

Despite his many years of involvement with Sarafina!, Mr Ngema never tires of it.

“It's one of the productions I can still say touches my heart. The story of Sarafina! is very touching, and it's very personal. I never get tired of telling it or working on it and such. I know with the Bermuda cast, the show might be a little bit different but we will be keeping the authenticity as it is.”