On Thursday 19 October 2023, Lloydscompany will perform Unbreakable at the State Theatre in Pretoria, South Africa. The performance will take place during a three-day state visit by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Maxima to South Africa (18-20 October 2023) at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. As a token of appreciation for the hospitality offered, the King will present the company with a cultural programme on 19 October: the performance Unbreakable by Lloydscompany, the Soweto Skeleton Movers and eight musicians from Hayp Music. Unbreakable will tour the Netherlands from 10 October (premiere at Oude Luxor, Rotterdam) until 30 November 2023.

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS

Lloyd Marengo on the visit to Pretoria: "The five dancers from Soweto Skeleton Movers make do with what they have, dealing with load shedding every day. With pantsula on the streets of Soweto, they ensure that the lights come back on at home. Who would have thought that we, as Lloydscompany, would go to South Africa with them to perform our show there? It's wonderful, especially for the dancers, that they are playing a home game and with distinguished visitors. And when I say distinguished visitors, I really mean distinguished visitors. That will also ensure that from that moment on, they will be viewed differently in South Africa. This is literally from the streets to the stage. Unbreakable brings us together, it brings Africa, Suriname and the Netherlands together. I hope this will give them a better future, a financially secure future. And that their qualities will be appreciated as art and no longer as “streetshow pantsula”. That's what the performance in Pretoria means to me."

STATE VISIT BY THE ROYAL COUPLE TO SOUTH AFRICA

In addition to an official welcome ceremony by President Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the programme for the state visit will include visits to the Blesbokspruit Wetland Reserve, the Apartheid Museum, the Innovation Village and Freedom Park. As a token of appreciation for the hospitality offered, the King will present a cultural programme. At the State Theatre in Pretoria, Lloydscompany and Dutch musicians from Hayp Music will perform Unbreakable, with South African dancers from the Soweto Skeleton Movers. In addition to the Royal couple, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will also be present. Also present during the state visit will be Minister Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science, Minister Adema of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Minister Bruins Slot of Foreign Affairs and Minister Ollongren of Defence.

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Cast: Topollo Ntulo, Jabulani Manyoni, Junior Hlongwane, Molefi Rakitla, Lerato Motsepe

Choreography: Soweto Skeleton Movers and Lloyd Marengo

Direction: Jonzi D, Soweto Skeleton Movers

Production: Lloydscompany

Music: DJ Sce,ction Sce,ction, Fisto Fisto & HAYP MUSIC (Alvin Leiws & Patrick Mijnals)

Musicians:

Patrick Mijnals (piano / synthesizer)

Alvin Lewis (guitar)

Glenn Gaddum (bass)

Yoràn Vroom (drums)

Geerten Feller (viola)

Hieke Dam (violin)

Danna Paternotte (violin)

Dionne Nijsten (cello)

Lighting: Paul van Laak

Visuals: Bouba Dola