Graphic for the stage production of The Life of Nelson Mandela
Image from Théâtre en Anglais Website

Late last week, Entrée to Black Paris was delighted to receive the following email communication:

"I’m reaching out on behalf of Théâtre en Anglais regarding The Life of Nelson Mandela, presented at Alhambra Paris on Friday 5 June 2026 at 8:00pm.

"The production retraces Nelson Mandela’s journey through theatre, storytelling, humour and original a cappella music. We thought this event might resonate with your audience interested in Black history, memory and cultural life in Paris."

We responded immediately, expressing our willingness to share information about the show on social media and requesting an interview about the theater—whose mission is to teach English through theater—as well as the play.

Upon receiving an affirmative reply, we set up an interview with artistic director, Lucille O'Flanagan.

Today's post presents this interview. It includes two comments by Chengetai, the first actress in the troupe to play Winnie Mandela.

Actors portraying Nelson and Winnie Mandela

ETBP: What was the inspiration to start Théâtre en Anglais?

LO: I was a theatre director in the UK since 1982 and ran a company called Theatre in Conservation in the 80s and 90s in the UK.  When I moved to France, I looked for a company that worked in my native language—frankly because my French was non existent.

At that time I was running an informal play reading group in English for actors in Paris.  An actress (Jess from Le Bureau in fact) recommended I speak with Camilla Barnes, who had been running Théâtre en Anglais for two or three years and was looking to pass it on. It was a small company at that time, but motivated by the fact that I was now pregnant and living in France (which I never thought would happen), the company grew.

ETBP: When did you begin taking your shows on the road across France? 

LO: 2003 and going from strength to strength in 2026.

Lucille O'Flanagan
Image courtesy of Théâtre en Anglais

ETBP: How many schools have brought students to see your plays?

LO: I would say about half of the collèges and lycées (middle schools and high schools) in metropolitan France and some outre-mer (overseas). We have performed at Saint Martin and often in Guadeloupe.  We just added Martinique a couple of seasons ago. We performed in Mayotte last year, plus nearly every year in La Réunion.

ETBP: How many schools use your pedagogical materials?

LO: From what the teachers tell us, nearly all the schools that come to our shows use part or all of the info on our website. The teachers packs, extracts of songs, lyrics, costumes, photos, and most importantly the full texts of the plays, are always available for free. 

ETBP: How many take advantage of your Atéliers théâtres (theater workshops)?

LO: We had always run workshops as an extra, but we see more and more teachers need this support and feel their students benefit greatly from either a briefing or debrief before or after the show.  

ETBP: How many actors are in your troupe?

LO: Each troupe has six people—4 or 5 actors and 1 or 2 technicians.  In The Life of Nelson Mandela, there is a true troupe spirit where they also perform the play The Rosa Parks Story on tour.

In Rosa we have an all-black cast, and in Mandela, there is one white guy.  So, quite simply the extra actress from Rosa welcomes the public and sings in Xhosa at the start of Mandela. For Rosa, it is the white dude who welcomes the public.  So we stay at six people.

ETBP: How do you recruit your actors?

LO: I advertise via France Travail and Nawak and of course, after all these years, word of mouth.

ETBP: How do you select the plays you produce?

LO:  I choose things that touch me, that I think would appeal to our mostly young public.  We have produced all sorts from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes (see the theater's archive HERE).

Théâtre en Anglais 2025-2026 season

ETBP: Why did you decide to produce a play about Nelson Mandela?

LO: People often ask this.  

Quite simply, I was born in 1961 in the UK. I grew up with Mandela.

One day, when my daughter was 13, I realised this would be the play for French kids.  So I started to plan a creation and enrolled an old friend in London to do the research.

My then 14-year-old daughter wrote the music you hear in the play.  She went on to earn a degree in music and is now writing a new musical called INVINCIBLE, which is about the oppression of the Irish and their fight for freedom.  It will also tour for Théâtre en Anglais and be performed at the glorious Théâtre Gymnase Marie-Bell in May 2027.  This is a departure for us—there will be 9 actor-singers on stage.

ETBP: How often has Mandela been performed?

LO: The Life of Nelson Mandela began several seasons ago as Prisoner 46664, and I have re-created it many times. It is my life's work, and I just have to tweak and improve it.

ETBP: How many people have seen it over the years?

LO: About a million.

ETBP: Why are you reviving it now?

LO: People want it. Mandela is the icon of our age.

Click on the image to watch "The Life of Nelson Mandela: Behind the Scenes"

ETBP: To your knowledge, has anyone from Mandela's family or network seen the play? If so, what was their reaction to it?

LO: Not that I know, but I hope they would be touched.

We have a South African actor hopefully coming to perform next season. He tells me that when he read the text to his mother, she cried. No greater praise could I ever wish for.

Chengetai said:

"I don’t think anyone from the Mandela family has seen the play.  I wish that they should see the impact that Tata has made all around the world."

ETBP: Who writes the plays you produce?

LO: The writers are all based in London. Authenticity in all ways.

ETBP: Do the Black actors in your troupe play non-Black roles in the plays you produce?

LO: Not in The Life of Nelson Mandela. But in The Rosa Parks Story, yes.  We use an interesting mask work. 

Chengetai commented:

"Yes, in Rosa Parks black actors do play white roles and I think that’s fantastic artistically and mentally for the actors.  It is quite the challenge—a little bit of 'step in my shoes' kind of thing."

ETBP: Do Anglophones frequently come to see your productions?

LO: Mostly we perform during the day, but for evening shows, yes we have anglophones or anglophiles. All are welcome.

ETBP: I see that you present French subtitles for some of your plays. How do you decide which ones will be subtitled?

LO: What a great question! At first, it was only upon request.  But now we want to reach more people, especially with the shows about civil rights.  So more of our productions have subtitles.

ETBP: Do you always perform at the Alhambra when you stage plays in Paris?

LO: In fact, The Life of Nelson Mandela on 5 June at 8 PM  will be our LAST ever performance at the Alhambra (the theater is converting to concerts only).

We move to the THEATRE APOLLO (300 seats) and THEATRE GYMNASE MARIE-BELL (750 seats - Italian-style theater) next season.

We will be doing more evening shows than before.

Théâtre en Anglais 2026-2027 season

For example, Mandela in French (a huge departure for us) and Rosa Parks (in English with French subtitles) will be performed every day during the school holidays.

Find information about locations, venues, dates, and times on our new calendar.

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Alhambra Paris
21, rue Yves Toudic
75010 Paris
Metro: République (Lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11) and Jacques Bonsergent (Line 5)
Internet: https://www.alhambra-paris.com/the-life-of-mandela-lo4387.html

To purchase tickets for The Life of Nelson Mandela, click HERE.