Mandela London Reviews and Tickets

68%
(17 Ratings)
Positive
59%
Mixed
29%
Negative
12%
Members say
Great singing, Ambitious, Slow, Absorbing, Great acting

About the Show

A new musical about the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and leader, Nelson Mandela.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (17)

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117 Reviews | 11 Followers
80
Thought-provoking, Intense, Great singing, Ambitious

See it if You want a refreshing take on Nelson Mandela in a musical format.

Don't see it if You struggle with accents, they are very strong here

164 Reviews | 24 Followers
79
Absorbing, Great singing, Great writing, Great staging, Thought-provoking

See it if you love historical emotional brilliance

Don't see it if you want Happy endings

78 Reviews | 5 Followers
67
Slow, Relevant, Great acting

See it if you're interested in Mandela's family story

Don't see it if you expect it to be focussed on the political issues.

95 Reviews | 3 Followers
65
Ambitious, Important, Slow, Disappointing, Cliched

See it if you want to see some of the fantastic actors on stage.

Don't see it if you expect something brimming with African rhythm and emotion.

54 Reviews | 5 Followers
55
Confusing, Great singing, Profound, Slow

See it if you are interested in learning more about the Mandela family through some powerful music and rousing choreography.

Don't see it if you want a coherent plot to follow with clear character relationships and deeper political relevance.

83 Reviews | 8 Followers
45
Dated, Banal

See it if Poor Nelson, the great man not served well with this trite score.

Don't see it if Poor songs and a bad book.

25 Reviews | 2 Followers
100
Entertaining, Enchanting, Clever, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if You like musicals with grit and heart

Don't see it if Nothing, go and see it!!

36 Reviews | 9 Followers
75
Refreshing, Great singing, Entertaining

See it if you want a refresh on Mandela's story, love hearing great voices

Don't see it if the show lacks a little depth, the opening feels like a copy of the Lion King. The second half is better than the first

Critic Reviews (8)

The London Evening Standard
December 12th, 2022

"This musical biopic of South Africa’s great unifying leader is a storming celebration of the human spirit and the human voice. ... The entire cast are in full, roaring voice it’s overwhelming."
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Time Out London
December 9th, 2022

" 'Mandela' had a fascinating and inspirational life, but the musical that bears his name frequently seems barely interested in it. ... it’s a singularly inadequate tribute to one of the great humans of our time."
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The Guardian (UK)
December 9th, 2022

"The central performances are as strong as they can be given the material, and both Fiamanya and Luwoye’s voices brim with power, as do those of the chorus."
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The Times (UK)
December 12th, 2022

"Luwoye strikes dignified poses but this visionary is just about as inscrutable as a face on a banknote."
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WhatsOnStage
December 9th, 2022

"It's an enjoyable evening, full of good performances, and an emotional reminder of what a deeply held belief in people's capacity for change and forgiveness can achieve."
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London Theatre
December 10th, 2022

"There’s no denying the commitment to a ceaselessly important cause that courses through 'Mandela,' but the show in its present form aims to soar only to feel artistically stillborn."
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The Stage (UK)
December 9th, 2022

"As a piece of work, this musical falls short of doing justice to its subject. But it’s worth seeing for the sheer, galvanising passion of the performances."
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The Arts Desk
December 9th, 2022

" We get a troublingly two-dimensional sketch of an otherwise complex history, both collective and personal. This rich material surely deserved a more grounded and compelling treatment on stage."
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