There are plenty of things for youngsters to do in the city during the long Christmas break, from pantos to snowboarding, fly-fishing to children’s theatre – and a special programme at the Zoo.
Parents can take their children to see the play Cinderella at the Joburg TheatreParents can take their children to see the play Cinderella at the Joburg TheatrePARENTS who always approach the holiday season with feelings of mild panic about what to do with their kids can now be at ease with a selection of places to go, shows to see, and a few educational venues to visit.
The Joburg theatre presents the traditional tale of Beauty and the Beast until 24 December. Tickets cost R99 per person. Jill Girard and Keith Smith are at the helm, ensuring that this production will have a spectacular set and actors of the highest calibre.
Innovative funky musical treatments and new songs will ensure an all-new and totally contemporary production. The play tells the story of Beauty’s father, who picks a rose from the Beast’s garden and gets caught. He makes a promise to send his daughter to the Beast, which he does, and in the end they fall in love.
Adding humour and great antics to the production, the designers have included the traditional pantomime-style spoilt-rotten ugly sisters, a wicked fairy Davina, an apprentice fairy Dewdrop, a good fairy Koisanni and a dictatorial housekeeper, Mrs. Bollocks.
Also at the Joburg Theatre is Cinderella (Something extra in Cinderella Category: News/Arts and culture), which runs on until 30 December. Tickets range from R190 to R260.
A Classic Panto
The most popular pantomime story of them all, Cinderella is brought magically to life from page to stage by legendary storyteller and mirth-maker Janice Honeyman in a high quality, top-drawer production packed with an abundance of comedy, stunning sets, beautiful costumes and, of course, the special 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.
“Joburg Theatre audiences have come to expect truly star casting - with a few surprises - in their annual festive season pantos and this year I think we’ve even surprised ourselves,” says executive producer and Joburg Theatre’s chief executive officer, Bernard Jay.
“We’re flattered and delighted that some of this country’s most popular celebrities have chosen to spend the last two months of their year with us, entertaining over 75 000 people in this grand old tradition.”
For bookings at the Joburg Theatre visit www.joburgtheatre.com, e-mail vipticketing@joburgtheatre.com or call 011 877 6854 / 6853.
The Barnyard Theatre at the Cresta Shopping Centre has a special treat in store for the whole family with the magical tale of The Swan Princess.
In this enchanting adaptation, a beautiful young princess has a spell cast over her and her sisters so that they become swans by day and humans by night. Kids of all ages will be captivated by both the hilarious and sentimental scenes, as well as the spectacular music.
Tickets are just R50 and shows take place at 11am and 3pm on 17 and 23 December. Bookings can be done online at www.barnyardtheatre.co.za.
Dancing in the Street
Also at the Barnyard is Dancing in the Street, which runs until 31 December, giving audiences the opportunity to party all over the world at various famous carnivals, celebrations and festivals.
Children enjoy a ferry ride at the zooChildren enjoy a ferry ride at the zooThe show will criss-cross the globe and visit exotic destinations like the Rio Carnival, the Mardi Gras Carnival in New Orleans, The Cape Minstrel Carnival in Cape Town, St Patrick’s Day in Ireland, the Halloween Festival, The Soccer World Cup 2010 in South Africa and a New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, New York.
Celebrations start with the ambiance of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras Festival with tributes to Louis Armstrong and Elvis Presley and quickly move to Brazil with the sounds of Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Carlos Santana.
The show also includes the glorious sounds of Ireland’s celebration of St Patrick’s Day with songs like Danny Boy, The Wild Rover and The Leaving of Liverpool. The journey then continues to Sydney, Australia and the Mardi Gras Pink Festival where the disco tunes of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, take to the air with songs like It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive and I Love the Night Life.
Audiences will then experience the scary celebrations of Halloween with Michael Jackson’s Thriller and of course Monster Mash and The Time Warp. The party continues in Jamaica with The Sun Splash Festival and the reggae sounds of Bob Marley’s Stir It Up, Could You Be Loved and the beautiful Redemption Song.
Then it’s time to touch down on our own home soil with South African celebrations that are not only historical but also have groove and soul. Audiences celebrate The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival that has been brewed for more than three centuries in District Six, which promises to get the party going. The music never stops and is one endless party as audience members head for the Soccer World Cup 2010 with the anthem Wavin’ Flag.
Finally the party moves to Times Square, New York for a New Year’s Eve bash where the audience will link arms and sway to Auld Lang Syne.
Parents and kids will also be able to ice skate at Cresta’s Amphitheatre, where they have special skate-aids that make learning to skate easier for the little ones.
For a more hands-on approach, children will get a chance to meet The Smurfs at Sandton City until 24 December for the Smurf Christmas Show, where they will get their faces painted or enjoy craft workshops - all for free.
The holiday season would not be complete without a trip to the Teatro at Montecasino where Beautiful Creatures is currently on show until 23 December. Mafutha the Elephant, Morris the Funky Monkey and Georgina the Gentlest Giraffe will have the kids dancing and singing along in this hour-long show.
Tickets are priced at R75 and bookings can be made at Computicket (www.computicket.com).
The Zoo Story
The Johannesburg Zoo (www.jhbzoo.org.za) will be hosting Santa when he brings his goodies bag to their “Jungle Bells” programme, with fun activities for kids. The animals will also come out to play.
Santa will be visiting the gardens to tell Christmas stories and share gifts, all in the spirit of Christmas. This special visitor will be joined by Boo, the cartoon character from Kids Co channel, who will sing and play with kids. Also visiting will be Manzi, the waterwise character from Randwater, who will keep visitors entertained with his funny dance.
Johannesburg Zoo will also have fun activities for young JoburgersJohannesburg Zoo will also have fun activities for young JoburgersZoo animals can look forward to a fun programme, “Animals @ play”, to help keep them fit – they will be given various balls to play with. Charles, the young chimpanzee, gets his toy on 4 December; the polar bears, GeeBee and Wang, on 10 December; and Triton, the white lion, plays on 17 December.
There will also be animal talks and feeding sessions, animal demonstrations where visitors can get up close to the animals, wild face painting and ape activities like gorilla grooming.
Kids will be kept busy during the Zoo’s holiday programme with fun activities that include being a vet for a day, doing animal forensics, learning more about owls and doing things only zookeepers get to do.
A day at the zoo wouldn’t be complete without special moments being captured on camera and this year the zoo has partnered with Nikon South Africa to run a photography competition. Nikon will be sponsoring the main prize, a D3100 camera with a 55 – 200 mm VR lens and camera bag valued at R7 000. The competition runs until 21 December.
For more information visit their website www.jhbzoo.org.za or email them at info@jhbzoo.org.za.
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