Mandela thanks rock-ballet goers

Nelson Mandela today sent thanks to Irish people turning out for the European premiere of a rock ballet raising money for his AIDS charity.

The world-renowned civil rights leader was expected to be at the opening night of Queen at the Ballet at Dublin’s Point Theatre but had to withdraw at the last minute because of ill health.

His daughter, Zinzi, made the journey instead to accept a €10,000 donation from the show’s promoters towards the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

“He would have loved to have been here,” said Ms Mandela, who was in Ireland for her first time.

She said her father often voiced appreciation of the support he had received from Ireland.

“We are two communities that have been ravished by war, by bloodshed, by pain and we are all trying to rise and learn from that. In that sense Ireland is very special to him,” she said.

“I would like to, on his behalf, thank each and everyone who buys a ticket. Every ticket you buy makes a difference to someone’s life back home.”

An extra 1% of all ticket sales for the musical – which runs for the next fortnight – will be given to the charity, which fights the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

“This is part of my father’s legacy, this is part of keeping his name alive and part of what he stands for,” said Ms Mandela.

Choreographed by the Cape Town City Ballet, the show celebrates the songs of legendary Queen singer Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 from complications brought on by AIDS.

Irish businessman Chris Goodey brought the spectacular to Dublin after seeing the reaction to it in South Africa, where it played to sell-out audiences for four seasons.

The show will open tonight, 20 years to the day since Queen played to sell-out audiences at Slane Castle, and runs until July 15.

The band have worked with Mr Mandela in raising money and awareness to battle the disease.