Friday, October 2, 2026 at 3:30 PM
UCLA Nimoy Theater, Los Angeles
A groundbreaking theatrical production honoring the life and legacy of Simon Nkoli. **“Vivid, vibrant and uplifting” – *****Theatre Scene Cape Town*** Philip Miller’s *Nkoli: A Fierce and Fabulous Life* is a groundbreaking production honoring the life and legacy of Simon Nkoli, a gay anti-apartheid freedom fighter who was charged with treason during the Delmas Treason Trial and later organized Johannesburg’s first Pride march. This film of the operatic work features a dynamic cast of young performers and creatives whose artistry carries Simon Nkoli’s legacy into the present. Drawing from the history of the ballroom and vogue scene as a sanctuary for LGBTQI+ self-expression, the production blends opera, voguing, protest songs, video and dance into a thrilling theatrical experience. *Nkoli* is an urgent reminder that the fight for freedom, dignity and visibility continues through the voices and bodies of young people today. Both a celebration and a call to action, it is a testament to art as a tool for resistance, healing, joy and imagining freer futures. UCLA Chancellor’s Initiative for the Arts, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, the UCLA Center for Musical Humanities, the Joyce S. and Robert U. Nelson Fund, the UCLA Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library and the UCLA Music Library’s Hugo and Christine Davise Fund. Image