Madiba the Musical

Jean-Pierre Hadida

Author & Composer

Jean-Pierre Hadida was born in 1960 in Oran, Algeria. His family moved to Paris, France when he was 2 years old. As a youth, he entered the Antony Conservatory of Music to study classical guitar with master Jean Mourat. Later, he was drawn to the piano and it’s infinite possibilities as he began to pursue what would soon become his passion: musical composition. In the mid 80′s, he produced the radio program known as “Cocktail”, working with famous artists such as Serge Gainsbourg, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Foreigner. Jean-Pierre Hadida’s first musical told the epic journey of Ulysses in “Ulysses, the musical” (2002). In 2008, encouraged by Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Misérables) he paid a heartfelt tribute to Anne-Frank putting her story into words and music in “Anne” played at the theatre du Gymnase in Paris (2008). Since then, he’s written and produced “Singing at the Bistro” at the Réservoir (2010) and in collaboration with Alicia Sebrien, “The Pirate and the Doll” (2013), and “School of Little Monsters” (2015) at the Comédie Bastille. This fruitful collaboration led to “Madiba the Musical” (2016), their latest work, which celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela.

Alicia Sebrien

Co-Author

It’s in parallel to studies in law and then geopolotics that Alicia first began her theatrical training. She then devoted herself entirely to the theatre, studying at the Cours Florent and the Cours Simon, and had her first experiences in stage direction and scenography in 2012. She is credited in as author and stage director in her first show designed for young audiences ‘The Pirate and the Doll’ (2013) followed by the rest of the trilogy ‘Little Monsters School’ (2015) and ‘The Kingdom of Toys’ (2016). She co-authored and was stage director for one-man show for young audiences with Serge Bonafous: ‘Bonaf, Superhero’ (2014) . In 2015 Alicia directed and performed the scenography of ‘Zoostory’, a play by Edward Albee at the Theatre du Tremplin in Paris. She is also the co-author of ‘Squat, The Musical’ alongside Clement Bighelli.

Pierre-Yves Duchesne

Director

Stage performer, Pierre-Yves Duchesne has acquired a unique stage experience and vocal technique throughout his career that he teaches with his team at AICOM (International Academy of Musicals) the first school in France dedicated to musicals of which he is the founder. Beyond teaching, he overseas vocal direction of ‘Grease’, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Aladdin’ and he has directed ‘Anne, The Musical’, ‘1939’ alongside vocal coaching of artists (Voca People, Lara Fabian, Amir) and on television shows ‘France has Talent’ (M6) and ‘Popstars’. Since 2005 with boldness and work, Pierre-Yves Duchesne has trained an entire generation of artists to the craft of the Musical. His teaching and stage directions are the fruit of his personal experience and the richness of his encounters from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris (in the class of Andrea Guiot and Nicole Broissin) to the National opera stages.

Dennis Watkins

Associate Director

Dennis Watkins is a writer, producer and director and has also been an actor and broadcaster. His directing credits include:Sydney Opera House 40thAnniversary Concert; Jorn Utzon State Memorial;the first five annual Helpmann Awards; the arena spectaculars Cavalcade, The Saddle Club, and the Main Arena at the Royal Easter Show;Santa’s Kingdomin Melbourne and Sydney;and The Titanic Experience at Fox Studios.He introduced Theatresports to Australia and directed its inaugural seasons in Sydney,Perth,Adelaide and Melbourne. Artistic Associate at Newtheatricals, Director of the Palais Theatre’s Music on Film Festival, Head of Public Programs at Sydney Opera House, Co-Artistic Director of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, producer of the Message Sticks Festival, and has also been Associate Director at Sydney Theatre Company and Artistic Counsel at both Belvoir St Theatre and the State Theatre of South Australia. He has produced Family Concerts for the Sydney Symphony,was a Commissioning Editor and broadcaster atABC Radio,and Head of Comedy at ABC Television where the shows he commissioned included Good News Week, The Games, The Micallef Program, The Adventures of Lano and Woodley, McFeast, and Roy and H.G.’s Club Buggery. He was Artistic Director of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Orange Festival of Arts.

Johan Nus

Choreographer

Following on from his experience as a classical and contemporary dancer in many professional productions, Johan has choreographed musical projects such as ‘La petite sirène’ at the Olympia, ‘Le Tour de Gaule Musical d’Astérix’ at the theatre of the Champs Élysées, ‘La petite fille aux allumettes’ at the theatre of the Palais Royal (nominated for the Molières), ‘Aladin’ and ‘Madiba’ at the theatre Comédia, ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Les Franglaises’ at Bobino, ‘Tous des Malades’ with Marion Games, ‘La Dame de chez Maxime’ at the Theatre 13, as well as ‘Timéo at the Casino of Paris.

Johan is also the choreographer of ‘Twisted Vegas’ at the Westgate Theatre and ‘Magical Dream’ at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. He was the choreography consultant for the parade of the 20^th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris and for the 25^th Anniversary of the park, he will choreograph the promotional events in Madrid.

In Film and Television he has been coach and choreographer for shows such as ‘La France a un incroyable talent’ (M6), ‘Arab got Talent’ (MBC4),’La nouvelle star’(D8) ‘Famous Dance’ (E-Entertainment), ‘A la recherche de’ (W9), ‘X Factor’ (Rustavi 2) and ‘Arab Idol’ (MBC1).

Johan sings in the group ‘Ménilmontant’ signed to Sony Music and has performed in numerous video clips and prestigious events in France and overseas. For over ten years, Johan has been head of the Dance Department of the ‘Académie International de Comédies Musicales de Paris’.