After having had to postpone their annual festive season pantomime production in 2020 because of the pandemic and ensuing government restrictions, Joburg Theatre and executive producer Bernard Jay are delighted to announce that Janice Honeyman’s Cinderella will be on the Nelson Mandela Theatre stage at Joburg Theatre from 5 November to 24 December 2021.
In Janice Honeyman’s telling of Cinderella, you know that the show will be packed with an abundance of comedy, stunning spectacle, hundreds of beautiful costumes and, of course, the legendary panto moment when Cinderella is transformed from rags to riches and whisked off to the Ball – with the help of a little dusting of Fairy Godmother magic.
Now this favourite of all South African family stage shows promises to be more spectacular than ever. South African Andrew Timm has joined the team for the first time as Production Designer in order to transform the stage into a high-tech, 21st century riot of innovative and spectacular special effects – combining live performance with projections and 3D graphics on over 500 LED screens and bringing in hologram effects, giant props, magic techniques and pyrotechnics to surprise and delight audiences of all ages.
Andrew Timm is an award-winning creative director of TV shows, large scale music events, music videos and corporate theatre. Through three decades of experience as a director, designer and writer in the entertainment industry, Andrew’s career highlights include creative director of staging for the live broadcasts of X Factor South Africa and five years of staging gospel’s acclaimed Joyous Celebration. He currently also directs music videos for the world famous Ndlovu Youth Choir.
2021’s Cinderella stars Desmond Dube and Ben Voss as the hilarious Ugly Sisters Fanny Flatulina and Flossie Flemerina, Bongi Mthombeni as Buttons, Kiruna-Lind Devar in the title role, Kyle Grant as her Prince Charming, Dolly Louw as GogoMama the Merry-Fairy Godmother, Graham Hopkins as Baron Horace Hard-Up and Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri as the prince’s sidekick Dandini. The company also features (in alphabetical order) Tarryn Heard, Venolia Manale, Arno Meyer, Kenneth Meyer, Noni Mkhonto, Brian Ngobese, Funeka Peppeta, Kaylan Sabbadin, Musanete Sakupwanya, Jonathan Blaine Shore, Justin Swartz and Dezlenne Ulster-Weale.
In an Exclusive I had the opportunity to ask Ben Voss and Desmond Dube a few questions. Here is what they had to say.
What do you love the most about theatre?
What do you enjoy the most about playing the ugly sisters?
The pantomime will be choreographed by Nicol Sheraton; Dale-Ray Scheepers serves as both music arranger and musical director, Bronwen Lovegrove is costume co-ordinator and the sound design will be by Akhona Bozo.
Please visit my YouTube channel for more from this interview. Tickets for Cinderella are now on sale from R240 through visiting www.joburgtheatre.com or by calling 0861 670 670. Terrific group, family and senior citizen discounts are available.
Information courtesy of BSharp Entertainment.
