Nkoli opera premieres at Theater der Welt in Chemnitz

South African composer Philip Miller's opera 'Nkoli: A Fierce and Fabulous Life' had its European debut at the Theater der Welt festival in Chemnitz, Germany on June 23-24, 2026. The work premiered in Johannesburg in 2023. It tells the story of Simon Nkoli, an apartheid-era gay and Black civil rights activist. The opera features a cast of Black artists, including Simbone Qonya as Nkoli, S'BO GYRE as a drag queen emcee, Ann Masina as Nkoli's mother, and Nokuthula Magubane. The production includes a small orchestra of Black musicians led by conductor Tshegofatso Moeng, with choreography by Llewellyn Mnguni. Miller is known for collaborations with William Kentridge, including 'Refuse The Hour' (2011) which played at Perth Festival in 2016. The opera opens with a 1980s-themed set featuring TV screens and a split-level urban housing block. While the first 40 minutes are energetic, the middle section lags due to repetitive compositions. The work explores Nkoli's struggles with discrimination from authorities, fellow activists, and his family, as well as tensions with fellow activist Bev Ditsie.