I love this time of year. Sure, it may be silly season in the entertainment industry, but that’s what makes it so exciting! One of the major events during the holiday season is the Joburg Theatre’s pantomime. Last year, a rendition of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ dazzled crowds and this year’s pantomime will be an awesome, proudly South African retelling of Robin Hood in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood as writer/director Janice Honeyman collaborates with producer Bernard Jay on their 16th pantomime.
The plot combines the babes-lost-in-the-forest story with the Robin Hood legend. The young children, Hansel and Gretel, come to visit their uncle, the Sheriff of Nottingham, little suspecting that he is plotting their demise. But never fear, help is at hand – in the shape of Robin and his Merry Men, plus Maid Marian and the Spirit of the Forest!
The hunky Izak Davel will play the role of the title character this year. If you’re a fan of SABC 3’s hit soapie ‘Isidingo’, you will remember him as the arrogant Bradley Haines. Izak, however, is a music star as well and has released hits such as ‘Verlei My’, ‘Is Jy In Of Is Jy Uit’ and ‘Vreesloos’. Other cast members include Desmond Dube as Friar Tuck, Idols South Africa star Bongi Mthombeni as Will Scarlet and Kate Normington will star as the wildly comic as Silly Sylviana, the Spirit of the Forest! Also featured in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood are Graham Hopkins as the villainous Norman the Nasty, Sheriff of Nottingham, L J Urbani as the ever-popular panto Dame Emmarentia Ugly, Phumi Mncayi as chief lieutenant of the Merry Men, Little John, award-winning actress Candida Mosoma as Much the Miller’s Son (written with an inevitable panto twist!), beautiful Carmen Pretorius as Robin’s love interest, Maid Marian, and Jaco Van Rensburg as the wandering minstrel, Alan-a-Dale.
“It’s an exciting year for us when Janice Honeyman writes a brand new pantomime script,” says Bernard Jay, Executive Producer of the panto. “We don’t know exactly what to expect until the last minute, but we do know it will be full of her magical flair for story-telling, spectacular special effects, zany comedy and outrageous double entendres!”
Over 30, 000 tickets have already been sold for this year’s panto which promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Make sure you get your tickets today before they’re all sold out!
Event Details
Date: 5 November – 30 December 2016
Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre:
Price: R220 – R350
Tickets: www.joburgtheatre.com
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