Jack and the Beanstalk

It's that time of the year again - South Africa’s most popular theatre tradition of the year.... It's time for PANTOMIME!

Jack and the Beanstalk, produced by Bernard Jay for Joburg Theatre, opens on the stage of The Mandela at Joburg Theatre on October 31 and runs until December 30 2012.

We all know the story of Jack and how he goes to the market to sell his cow and comes home with some magic beans.  Which then grow into an enormous beanstalk, climbing to the sky where a giant lives.  But Janice Honeyman’s telling of the Jack and the Beanstalk story is sure to be one of the craziest and original versions ever!  With a star cast, the best of South African creative talent behind the scenes and surprises galore on stage, kids and parents alike will be laughing uproariously and singing along to the songs (with or without the song sheet).

Needing no introduction (or explanation!), South Africa’s most loved panto star Tobie Cronje returns again this year as the evil Henry Hideosa, the Giant’s assistant.

Desmond Dube dons the usual over-the-top gowns as Dame Dudu Dludlu. Award-winning actor and comedian, Dube is much loved for the Sasol Amaglug-glug advert. His feature film credits include Hotel Rwanda, Millennium Menace and Panic Mechanic and he played the character of BK in The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, which was nominated for an Emmy Award. Dube last appeared in panto at Joburg Theatre in 2006 as Dame Winnie Wotalotigot in Janice Honeyman’s Aladdin.

Bongi Mthombeni will play the title role of Jack. Mthombeni charmed audiences last year as Prince Charming in Janice Honeyman’s Cinderella.  He is best known as one of the Top 10 finalists on the sixth season of the M-Net reality competition Idols, in 2010.

And no panto would be complete without the hero’s “love interest”, who - of course - he gets to marry and walk down a lot of steps with at the end of the show!  This year, the character of Raspberry Rose will be played by South Africa’s musical theatre star Carly Graeme, who achieved personal triumph with her leading role in Joburg Theatre’s World Cup 2010 production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s musical The Boys In The Photograph.

The comic role of the Mayoress will be played by Nandi Nyembe, who is best known for her role as Nandi Sibiya on the TV soccer drama Zone 14 and for her role as Sister Lizzie on the SABC1 drama series Soul City.

Multi-award winning actress Louise Saint-Claire is taking on this year’s fairy, Felma-Fabbadabba-dozy. This is Saint-Claire’s second panto at Joburg Theatre: she previously won many admirers with her hilarious send-up of Helen Zille in Janice Honeyman’s Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates in 2010.

Tickets for preview performances range from R140 to R240 and for all other performances from R190 to R290: on sale now by visiting the the Joburg Theatre website, or by calling the theatre’s direct ticketing line on 0861 670 670.

Discounted rates for groups of ten or more are available by calling the theatre on (011) 877 6853/4.

Hospitality packages are available for the pantomime in one of Joburg Theatre’s private function venues and the News Café – please call Headline Leisure Management for more information: (011) 877 6834 / hospitality@joburgtheatre.com.