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About
An extraordinary journey from South Sudan to the Australian stage!
“In this country, you think it’s your right to have three meals a day. Me, where I came from? I think it’s a miracle.”
From South Sudan to Egypt to our stage, this is the extraordinary journey of Mandela Mathia. Fleeing his war-torn home as a child, Mandela spent many years journeying, searching, and eventually finding his way to our stage. This is a joyful, poignant solo show, straight from the man who lived it.
A celebration of the South Sudanese community, of resilience, and the power of imagination, Lose To Win is an astonishing modern Australian story.
“Your heart is full at the end: full with Mathia’s suffering, warmth, humour and lust for life.” – Sydney Morning Herald
“What makes Mandela’s tale entertaining and memorable is his big smile, his sense of humour and his easy honesty.” – Sydney Arts Guide
This performance contains includes references to death and violence, the use of strobe lighting, haze and loud sounds.
Calendar
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Nunga Tickets for First Nations Communities
Country Arts SA offers discounted Nunga Tickets to support access and inclusion for First Nations peoples. These tickets are available at our Arts Centres and through the Shows on the Road program.
Education
Please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested in bringing a school group along to this performance.
Cast and Creatives
Mandela Mathia
Performer and Writer
Yacou Mbaye
Musician
Jessica Arthur
Director
Keerthi Subramanyam
Set and Costume Designer
Brendan Boney
Sound Designer and Composer
Kate Baldwin
Lighting Designer
Ayah Tayeh
Dramaturgical Assistant
Carissa Licciardello
Production Dramaturg
Laura Farrell
Vocal Coach
Writer’s Note
It’s a given. Whether we like it or not, life is like a glasshouse that throws rocks at us and hides its hand. It’s up to us how we reply when rocks are thrown at us. Either we make jewels out of them or throw them back at the glasshouse. Coming of age, having to reflect on the tragedies that have happened to my family and the South Sudanese community for twenty-seven years, is the reason I had to write Lose To Win. I saw many individuals within my community as well as myself turn these rocks into jewels, through building character, resilience, and the ability to move forward despite everything we have gone through. Lose To Win is a celebratory story of those of us who are living in the west and those back in South Sudan. It is a celebratory story of empowerment, of everyone who had to deal with the rocks life threw and continues to throw at them, but still chose, and continue to choose, to turn these rocks into jewels and move forward.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention and thank important people who I consider friends and mentors, and who have helped bring this story to life.To the wonderful storyteller and filmmaker, Genevieve Clay-Smith, who has been on this project from the genesis of the idea and the early stages of writing, thank you.
To another wonderful director, Jessica Arthur, who saw something in my heart, believed in the story and helped me bring the writing to completion. Thank you.
To the dramaturgs, Dom Mercer and Ayah Tayeh, who brough their skills and abillities to refine and develop the script. Your contribution has been substantial in this work. So, thank you.
To Red Line Productions and its staff who helped provide space for me to share Lose to Win with the Sydney audiences for the first time, my family and I are indebted to you. So, thank you.
And finally, to Belvoir St Theatre and my Belvoir family — I am thankful to you for providing a place which helped to introduce me to Sydney audiences as a performer, and for giving me opportunities to nurture my craft as an actor. Furthermore, my family and I thank you forgiving this story a voice and a home for Australia to come and see and hear what really happened!
This story is also dedicated to my late motherJoska Acii Lela. Thank you!
Director’s Note
I met Mandela in 2017 when he was in his final year of drama school. One day in rehearsal he walked up to me and asked, “in the future, will you make a play with me?” Jump forward to us emerging from lockdown four years later, we both had some time on our hands. Mandela and I would meet in our local park and he told me the story of his life, every single incredible detail.
Mandela is generous in his invitation to the audience. He shares his story in a way that invites curiosity and empathy towards our deeper selves. Through the exploration of his journey, he urges our own questioning of what it means to belong to this country – to be Australian.
Working with the creative team – Kate, Brendon, Keerthi – is a joy. Each member brings their own unique perspectives and experiences. Jen and Dana skilfully guide this show from page to stage. An essential part of the team is Yacou, an excellent musician who brings rhythmic intuition to Mandela’s story.
Thank you to Rose Mulcare, everyone at Red Line Productions and the Old Fitz for their support of the work in 2022. Thank you to the team of Nayika: A Dancing Girl for sharing process, space and story. Thank you to all at Belvoir for bringing this play to life and to Eamon, Dom and Ayah for your collaboration.
The biggest thank you of all goes to my friend and collaborator Mandela Mathia, thank you for gifting me and audiences with the experience of getting to know you and allowing us into your world of story-telling.
We hope this play provides you with a sense of hope while exploring what it means to long for safety, acceptance and the space to dream.
Photography by Daniel Boud.
Sponsored by
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