DAM: ‘Lose to Win’ details the extraordinary, autobiographical story of Actor Mandela Mathia, from a war-torn South Sudan all the way to Australia as a refugee. This important, modern Australian story encompasses identify, the power of imagination and all important resilience in the face of hardship. Accompanied by Musician Yacou Mbaye, one of Australia’s leading West African drummers and dancers, the show is currently playing at Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre until 19th May. We spoke to Mandela on bringing his story to stage and the journey that led him towards the arts.
DAM: Mandela, What was the driving force behind the decision to tell your story through this play – in this way?
MM: The driving force in writing this story had two stages to it. Early on, I was trying to introduce myself as an artist for the audience, once I knew I wanted to pursue acting as a career. I thought it was useful to introduce myself and who I am and where I come from. The second driving force was, as I was growing up in Sydney, Australia, I began to notice how the broader Australian community engaged and treated the South Sudanese community. Young South Sudanese boys, youths growing up in Australia feeling lost, feeling rejected, feeling unwanted almost by everyone in society except their peers. In that emptiness that they were living in, a sense of despair started to creep in. Gathering in groups usually around shopping centres and train stations to entertain themselves, there were a few bad apples that would do something unlawful which led to their arrest. As a result, these instances put the law enforcement in an unfavourable position with the young Sudanese youths. When the media and politicians got involved by voicing their concerns, it led to the demonisation of the whole South Sudanese community. So, growing in midst of all these events, I felt it was necessary to use my story, the power of theatre and storytelling, to shed light on what my community was experiencing for the past 12 years.
“I felt it was necessary to use my story, the power of theatre and storytelling, to shed light on what my community was experiencing for the past 12 years.”
DAM: Were there any parts of your story you felt vulnerable to share? If so, how did you overcome that?
MM: The vulnerable parts were the passing of my parents. As a child the concept of death didn’t mean much to me, due to growing up in Sudan in the midst of war and famine. With the loss of my biological mother in the midst of the chaos around me, I didn’t have time to grieve or give her a proper goodbye. I had to push forward, my brother had to push forward. Only with age now, and growing up in Australia, I’m beginning to understand the magnitude of the trauma and the painful experience that my family and I had to endure.
“I’m beginning to understand the magnitude of the trauma and the painful experience that my family and I had to endure.”
So, when I lost my second mother in 2018, that was the pitiful moment in my life where I understood what pain really is. And of course, was one of the difficult sections I had to write and perform in the story. But with the help of the director Jessica Arthur and my acting experience, I was able to find a way to do this part of the story every night.
DAM: The ‘Power of imagination’ is mentioned in the play’s synopsis, would you say imagination had an impact on your childhood/growing up, and how so?
MM: Yes, imagination absolutely had an impact on my childhood because where I come from, in order to survive and keep your sanity – you had to use imagination to escape a certain reality that was not helpful for continuation. Use of imagination to be able stay safe, to be able to eat, to be able to work and make money, etc.
“Where I come from, in order to survive and keep your sanity – you had to use imagination to escape…”
DAM: What’s your experience been like in the Australian industry as a South Sudanese creative?
MM: My experience as a South Sudanese creative in the Australian industry, has been a bit of a mixed bag. Coming out of drama school in 2017, was an exciting time. I was blessed right away – having booked jobs in theatre and screen. I see a need and hunger within the Australian Arts industry to welcome and provide space and opportunities for artists of colour such as myself, which is a wonderful image in encouraging inclusion and diversity in Australia. But in saying that, I think the Australian industry still has a long way to go to keep bridging this gap. More work needs to be done and more conversations need to be had.
DAM: What’s been a favourite moment for you in the process of bringing this piece together?
MM: A favourite moment for me in telling this story is the team, a wonderful and gifted group of artists who from day one saw themselves in the story in one way or another. The talents and experiences that they brought into the rehearsal room, lifted and brought the story to a new height – where if it wasn’t for their contribution, this story wouldn’t have had the impact that it has.
DAM: What do you hope audiences will take away from the show?
MM: I hope audiences will be able to see themselves in this Australian play. That beautiful cake, that promise land… That the Australia I wish for – is the Australia they also wish for, and so, willingly they help me in making that beautiful cake by bringing the rest of the ingredients. Finally, in love, I wish for understanding and a desire to hear each other, even when we disagree.
“I wish for understanding and a desire to hear each other, even when we disagree.”
DAM: If you had any advice for others like yourself, perhaps with dreams to get into the arts, what would you say?
MM: The advice that I would give to anyone would be – to be yourself, bring yourself, your parents, your ancestors and your roots to the work. This is the beauty of art. Your uniqueness and individuality is so prerequisite to everything you touch. If you walk in with that proudness and mindset, you’ll find yourself doing things with ease and freedom.
“If you walk in with that proudness and mindset, you’ll find yourself doing things with ease and freedom.”
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Find tickets to ‘Lose to Win’, playing at Belvoir St Theatre until May 19 here: https://belvoir.com.au/productions/lose-to-win/
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Photography by Brett Boardman ~
Published by Sangeetha Gowda ~
Diversity Australia Magazine 