Cinderella staged at Nelson Mandela Theatre

After having had to postpone their annual festive season pantomime production in 2020 because of the pandemic and ensuing government restrictions, Joburg Theatre announced that Janice Honeyman’s Cinderella will be on the Nelson Mandela Theatre stage from November 5 to December 24.

Once upon a time a girl named Cinderella lived with her two stepsisters. Poor Cinderella had to work hard all day long so the others could rest. One day, big news came to town.

The king and queen were going to have a ball. It was time for their son, Prince Charming, to find a bride.

In Janice Honeyman’s telling of Cinderella, the show is 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.

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 a 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 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 also directs music videos for the world-famous Ndlovu Youth Choir.

“Being appointed production designer for Cinderella is definitely a bucket-list moment for me,” said Andrew.

“With specially created animated content, we will transport the audience from the interior of a lavish castle, lit by hundreds of burning torches and candles, to the depths of a dark and foreboding forest complete with the glowing eyes of unknown creatures blinking in the darkness.

“The set virtually becomes another character in the show because it can and will have a life of its own. The possibilities are endless.”

Writer and director of the pantomimes Janice Honeyman said: “It’s going to be such a jol working closely with Andrew this year. Everything will be geared to retain the best of what has made our pantos so popular in the past:

the audience-involvement traditions of the genre, my sly but purposeful double entendres, the unwrapping of the fairy tale itself through good and evil but now adding the best of what technology and visual effects can offer to take the panto into the future.

“I can’t wait to get into the rehearsal room again.”

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 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.

“The festive season in Joburg would be nothing without the traditional panto and its magic,” said Joburg City Theatre’s CEO, Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema.

“Although postponed last year due to the pandemic, we certainly look forward to hosting patrons this year as we are well-positioned to share the magic while staying in line with Covid regulations and protocols.”

Tickets for Cinderella are now on sale from R240 through visiting www.joburgtheatre.com or by calling 0861 670 670.

Group, family and senior citizen discounts are available.