Roberto Pombo's Rollercoaster Ride: Bringing 'The Prince of Egypt' to Durban's Playhouse Opera

Durban's theatre scene is abuzz with excitement as Roberto Pombo, the man behind the curtains, brings the Young Performers' Project's holiday production of the sweeping epic 'The Prince of Egypt' to the Playhouse Opera. With over 130 youngsters taking to the stage, this musical extravaganza promises to be a spectacle of unprecendented scale in Durban. But how's Pombo handling the pressure?

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Theatrical maestro Roberto Pombo has taken the reins of the Young Performers' Project's epic musical 'The Prince of Egypt', featuring 130 children, a production of unprecendented scale in Durban.

The Young Performers Project opens this week with more than 130 youngsters in a holiday production of the sweeping epic of a musical The Prince of Egypt at the Playhouse Opera. And the man behind the “madness” is making his debut. Theatrical maestro Roberto Pombo has recently moved to Durban from the “heart-attack inducing” rat race that is Johannesburg. And he’s never produced anything as big. But he’s loving every minute of it.

The Independent on Saturday caught up with him during a rehearsal break this week.

His screen roles in the Netflix film Office Invasion (2022) and the series Shadow (2019), and most recently he appeared on Durban stages in his production The Agents. He is a movement director, voice-over artist, and facilitator for programmes like The Risk Lab and The Johannesburg School of Mask and Movement Theatre.

Pombo is known for his physical theatre, clowning, and mask work. He holds a Master's degree in Theatre and Performance from Wits University and trained at the Helikos International School of Theatre Creation in Italy.

Describing the massive show involving 130 children as a real baptism of fire, Pombo says:

“Moving to Durban was initially quite terrifying. It was moving to a different country. But I’ve found Durbanites and Durban theatre people incredibly warm. Everyone has welcomed me.”

“Des Govender took a chance on me with the show. She watched me perform at the Hilton Arts Festival last year and I think she saw something. I’m incredibly grateful. It’s such an amazing experience,” he says.

“I’ve never worked with a cast this big. I’ve never worked with a stage this big. The scale is massive. One of my mentors always says fear or terror is like excitement without breath - and it’s true. It has felt terrifying and exciting at the same time. It’s like being on a roller coaster. You scream from fear and pleasure and love every moment of it.”

“It’ll be a fresh experience. And it’s been exciting working on a blank canvas. I’ve also tried to find some lightness in the piece. It is a biblical piece so it’s quite heavy and emotionally charged, but I’ve tried to find moments when I can bring some comedy and laughter.

“It will be nice for Durban audiences to be introduced to some really beautiful music. There are some bangers in this. Moreover, the piece is also a piece about hope. The world is so hectic we really need some hope.” 

His biggest surprise is how talented the students he’s working with are. “It’s like WHAT! I’ve been able to treat most of the students as professionals. It’s quite astounding. I’m surprised how much I’ve enjoyed working with this massive cast. And they’re so sweet. It’s stimulating all the time and a very playful space.

For Pambo, mentoring the students is another responsibility. “I worked in education and mentorship for a while at the Market Theatre Laboratory. I hope to give them a good experience and teach them how to navigate the theatre world going forward.”

The Prince of Egypt tells the story of Ramses and Moses, two young men raised as brothers in a kingdom of privilege, who find themselves suddenly divided by a secret past. One must rule as Pharaoh, the other must rise up and free his people; both face a destiny that will change history forever.

The musical is a stage adaptation of the 1998 DreamWorks film, featuring music and lyrics by the multi-Grammy award winnerStephen Schwartz. It includes the Academy Award-winning duet, When You Believe made famous by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.