Now on stage – and heralding in the festive season again in Joburg, yup, you guessed it, its pantomime time!

Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay present the GIANT of all Pantomimes Jack and The Beanstalk on The Mandela Stage at Joburg Theatre, which officially opened on the 3rd of November 2019.

Multi-award winning director and South Africa’s “queen of the pantomime”, Janice Honeyman will once again tell the story of poor country boy Jack, the family cow, the magic beans, the enormous beanstalk, the unfriendly giant and the enchanted hen that lays the golden eggs. Adding the giant’s henchman – a truly evil panto villain – and the essential good fairy to the tale, audiences will be taken on a spectacular journey with Jack the Joller as the courageous hero.

Not seen on The Mandela stage since 2012, this ever-popular pantomime story traditionally sets good against evil and is jam-packed full of Honeyman’s wit, double-entendres, charm and magic. And, as always with Joburg Theatre’s pantomimes, the creative team has a few big surprises in store!

Making his pantomime debut as the villain Hendrik Hideosa is actor, comedian, writer, radio and TV host, director and painter Casper de Vries. Returning to Joburg Theatre after her triumphant success in the role of Shug Avery in The Color Purple is Lelo Ramasimong as the good fairy Gorgeous Gugu. The role of Jack the Joller also brings back multi-talented young actor Zolani Shangase to the Joburg Theatre stage.

Featured in the cast of Jack and The Beanstalk are Germandt Geldenhuys – currently enjoying great success as Louis on TV’s Binnelanders – as Mies Miemie Mosbolletjie-Melba, Neo Motaung as Mrs Skwashie Mangowashie, 22-year-old Dezlenne Ulster-Weale as Raspberry Rose and panto stalwart Clive Gilson as Dom-Dik Canari.

Completing the all-South African company are (in alphabetical order) Cameron Botha, Ashleigh Butcher, Olivia Cloud, Gugu Dhlamini, Nolo Harmony, James McPhail, Arno Meyer, Given Mkhize, Noni Mkhonto, Katlego Nche, Justin Swartz and Carmen Tromp.

Jack and the Beanstalk is presented by Joburg Theatre and Bernard Jay, and runs from November 2nd to December 22nd 2019. Tickets are now on sale from R225, with fantastic group discounts available. Call 0861 670 670 or visit www.joburgtheatre.com.