New Play Tells Nelson Mandela’s Story Through Video, Dance and Poetry

Rachel Osier Lindley | February 5, 2015

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Nelson Mandela, former South African President and anti-apartheid revolutionary, was the inspiration for a new play co-written by Birmingham poet Sharrif Simmons and Cheryl L. Davis. Red Mountain Theater Company‘s production of “Mandela” premiers Thursday, February 4.

Simmons joined WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to discuss what Mandela means today, and how he worked to contemporize Mandela’s story, including using a video screen at the heart of the production.

Sharriff Simmons. Photo by Stewart Edmonds, Red Mountain Theater Company.