Waikato Times: Soweto Gospel Choir the first show confirmed for Waikato Regional Theatre

Originally published in Waikato Times, Monday 15 September 2025.

By Mike Mather.

The Soweto Gospel Choir will be performing at the Waikato Regional Theatre on March 28.

Anyone wanting the experience of seeing a show at Hamilton’s new $80 million Waikato Regional Theatre should mark off Saturday, March 28 in their diaries now.

That’s when the Soweto Gospel Choir will perform in the soon-to-open facility.

The choir last performed in Hamilton when they headlined the 2015 then-named Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, to rave reviews.

The show will not be the first at the theatre - that is still to be announced, along with the opening date, however these are understood to be imminent.

The official opening date for the theatre will be announced soon. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.

One of the most popular vocal groups worldwide, the concert by three-time Grammy-winning choir will celebrate songs and anthems of Nelson Mandela’s Freedom Movement in South Africa and the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr Martin Luther King in the United States.

Opening with a rousing program of South African freedom songs, the repertoire moves down through time to the US, with beautiful renditions of the protest music of the Civil Rights Movement and more contemporary classics, including works by Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.

Formed in the titular township of Johannesburg in 2002, the more than 30-member ensemble have received much critical acclaim and audience adoration for their powerful renditions of African American spirituals, gospel, reggae and American popular music.

Opening night at the theatre is yet to be announced. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.

It has performed for former United States president Bill Clinton, and as invited guests for its patron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's 75th birthday celebrations, in front of an audience that included former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, Samuel L Jackson, Alfre Woodard and Carlos Santana.

The choir have played with or alongside the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Celine Dion, Robert Plant, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, U2, and Amy Winehouse.

The choir’s show at the Hamilton Gardens Arts festival received a glowing write-up in the Waikato Times courtesy of reviewer Danielle Heyns.

“At first the audience was stoic, motionless, compared with the high-octane energy and sheer exuberance on stage, which included signature South African touches like whistling, ululating, gumboot-dancing moves and those trademark colourful costumes.

“But that kind of energy, coupled with those titanium-strength voices, isn't conducive to a stiff upper lip and soon the older man next to me, who'd jumped at the sound of the first whistle, was tapping his foot.

“By the time the choir sang struggle favourite Meadowlands, he was tapping his entire leg. And by the time it sang Miriam Makeba's Pata Pata, he (and everyone else) was on his feel - albeit with a bit of coaxing from the stage - and dancing like it's 1956.”

The Hamilton show is the first for the choir’s New Zealand tour, which will then go on to the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland on March 29, then on to Wellington at the St James Theatre on March 31 before ending at the Christchurch Town Hall on April 1.

Eligible Westpac New Zealand customers with a Westpac New Zealand Mastercard have special access to pre-sale tickets starting from Wednesday, September 17 at 10am until Friday, September 19 at 10am, as well as access to exclusive preferred tickets from Friday, September 19 at 11am.

The Live Nation pre-sale starts Thursday, September 18 at 10am until Friday, September 19 at 10am or until the allocation is exhausted. To purchase pre-sale tickets, people can sign up at waikatoregionaltheatre.co.nz/register.

Tickets for Soweto Gospel Choir will be available to purchase by the general public on Friday, September 19 at 11am.