Nkandla lad is the mane attraction

23 July 2015 - 02:04 By Leonie Wagner

When the latest production of the Lion King debuted at the Lyceum Theatre in the UK, among its cast was South African actor Mthoko-zisi Khanyile, who played the role of King Mufasa, Khanyile, 24, hails from Nkandla."My parents were singers in Durban and gave up their dreams so that we could have an opportunity to live ours. That's the reason I went into performance," he said.Khanyile's London debut was his first international performance."It wasn't without its nerves or mistakes," he said.The stage production, now in its 16th year in London, is an adaptation of the 1994 Disney animation film which follows the journey of a young lion, Simba, who is born into royalty and ousted from the pride by his malicious uncle.The Lion King stage production was the highest grossing musical in the UK last year and worldwide brought in over £3,8-billion (about R72-billion).The baritone said: "There is no describing the feeling of life unravelling the way you always wished and dreamed. I enjoy playing Mufasa, because he is a king, a powerful man and a loving father...

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