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The pantomime this year is adapted from the classic tale, Pinocchio. It is a brand-new offering from Janice Honeyman, the panto queen, so get your tickets now.
ONCE upon a time there was a piece of wood... We all know the tale of Pinocchio, whose nose grew whenever he told a fib. And this year he will be starring in the annual pantomime at the Joburg Theatre Complex.
Fiona Ramsay, one of the stars of The Adventures of Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio, a brand-new offering from Joburg's panto queen, Janice Honeyman, stars the irrepressible Tobie Cronje, Fiona Coyne, Terence Bridgett, Fiona Ramsay and Sibu Radebe.
This year the pantomime runs from 4 November to 3 January 2010 at the Nelson Mandela Theatre. Writer and director Honeyman will bring the traditional tale to life in her adaptation.
A tale of great adventure, it follows the wooden puppet, Pinocchio, in his journey to becoming a real, live boy. The puppet is carved from a piece of pine by the carpenter and toymaker, Geppetto, who dearly wants a son of his own.
And Pinocchio is desperate to be a "real" boy. A Blue Fairy appears, saying she will grant his wish if he can prove himself to be "brave, truthful and unselfish".
Cronje, a panto veteran, he plays Geppetto - for once not the bad guy. Ramsay, an award-winning actress, is cast as the Blue Fairy, while the other Fiona, Coyne, who is best known as the feisty game-show host on The Weakest Link, plays Katarina, the cat.
Bridgett plays the wicked fox, Fortunato, who gets Pinocchio into all sorts of trouble. The actor is well known for his television roles as Jerome in 7de Laan and Chico in Isidingo.
Sibu Radebe is the star of the show, Pinocchio. He is no first timer to the stage, having recently performed in Beauty and The Beast. He also starred in Chicago, We Will Rock You, and a previous Honeyman pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
"I [have] wanted to write and direct this pantomime for over 20 years. My Adventures of Pinocchio will be full of magical surprises," says Honeyman.
The pantomime is always a hot Christmas favourite, and tickets sell out quickly. They are already on sale at Computicket, on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, or through the Computicket website.
Tickets for the preview performance are R190; tickets for all other performances are R210, excluding booking fees. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are available through the theatre, on 011 877 6853.
The Adventures of Pinocchio is on at the Nelson Mandela Theatre in the Joburg Theatre Complex, at the top of Loveday Street, in Braamfontein.
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