Behind the scenes with Janice Honeyman’s panto Peter Pan at Joburg Theatre
Peter Pan at the Nelson Mandela Theatre at Joburg Theatre, November 3 to December 24, 2023.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
We all know when magic is happening on stage, but perhaps what a lot of us do not really grasp is the hard work that happens behind the scenes for a stage production to successfully become that magic.
This fact was affirmed on Saturday when I and a few other media were invited to go behind the scenes to witness the making of Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan. There is really a lot of work that goes on behind the stage. BY the time that the tour ended I was lost for words. Even confused by the machinery that accompanies the making of a panto. I was left wondering as to how on earth the cast can grasp all the details they need to know in order to perform as a team.
And indeed we were given a taste of the panto when the cast performed the opening scene, and they appeared to master everything that they needed to know. We were really left in awe the sheer artistry and the ability to perform as a cast without getting lost in the process. Believe me to an untrained actor it is too easy to be confused by the technical part of the show and lose your ability to memorise your lines, and in the process cause all sorts of trouble for everyone. This was clear on Saturday after we were taken on this tour.
Pantomime lovers must in deed brace themselves for a roller Coaster experience of magic at the Joburg Theatre’s Mandela Theatre this year as Honeyman brings yet another panto to remember this year. The cast since October 2, 2023, have been busy rehearsing this year’s panto.
South Africa’s “Queen of the Pantomime”, Janice Honeyman, last staged this swashbuckling adventure in 2014. In true panto style, Honeyman adds her own fairy dust magic to this popular tale of the horrible Captain Hook and his side-kick Smee, who cause trouble for the brave Peter Pan, Darling children, lost boys and of course, Tinkerbell.
Adding Dame Clementina Coconut to the mix, brings about Honeyman’s usual wit, fun, playful humour, double-entendres and more, with audience participation and a few surprises.
Sandi Dlangalala, who will be playing the brave Peter Pan, shares his panto journey. “I am beyond excited to be in the Panto this year. It is my first Janice Honeyman Pantomime. I am ready and so excited for rehearsals to start and to be given the lead role is such ahuge honour.”
“Playing Captain Hook in this year’s magical panto romp Peter Pan will be my fourth year dishing out mayhem, malice and mischief in a Janice Honeyman spectacular. And I am more excited than Smee at an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet! It is the silliness, the scale and the slickness that I love so much. I am already making great progress growing my four inch moustache, mending my pantaloons and carving my cutlass. Hopefully, like me, you will be HOOKED too!” adds actor Ben Voss.
Michael Richard, who has performed in panto many times, will be playing Smee, Captain Hook’s right hand. “This is my fifth or sixth pantomime for Janice Honeyman over many years and I am still so excited about embarking on this new adventure. I may not be able to prance around as much I used to in my younger days, but the thrill is still there. Come and see me having a jol as Smee.”
Kiruna Lind-Devar who will be playing Wendy is incredibly excited to be starting rehearsals for this year’s panto. “Some of most precious friends and memories come from Panto land so I cannot wait to step back into that space and dance, sing and fly. All with a little faith, trust and pixie dust!”
Our Dame Clementina Coconut will be played by David Arnold Johnson, who had this to say “Being a Dame is always a treat. Working with Janice even more so. This year I will be a married Dame. So will definitely be drawing on some moments of my personal experience.
This time around, Virtuous Kandemiri will be sprinkling fairy dust as Tinkerbell and is beyond excited to be playing this role, “I'm so excited, I soaked in fairy dust. I cannot wait to play Tinkerbell, a character that I have always loved as a child, and one that I know many people love equally, if not more. This drives me to really give my all and to do her justice. It’s even better that I get to do this with a great, talented, and professional team. I am really looking forward to my first Janice Honeyman Pantomime.”
Featured in the cast of Peter Pan this year are (in alphabetical order) Matthew Berry, Inge Breytenbach, Gugu Dhlamini, Diego Hamity, Tarryn Heard, Dirk Joubert, Sarah Leigh, Charity Madhlazi, Siya Makakane, Gareth Meijsen, Noni Mkhonto, Bo Molefe, Lesedi Mpshe, Tania Mteto, Sibusiso Mxosana, Tshepo Ncokoane, Brian Ngobese, Manyano Ngoma, Zamaswazi Nkosi, Micah Stojakovic, and Kensiwe Tshabalala.
The pantomime is written and directed by Janice Honeyman, with musical direction by Dale-Ray Scheepers, choreography by Khaya Ndlovu, lighting design by Johan Ferreira, sound design by Akhona Bozo and production designer Andrew Timm.
Tickets are on sale through www.joburgtheatre.com or by calling 0861 670 670.
Preview prices start at R130, regular prices start at R190. Student and pensioner prices available. Early bird prices available until 31 July 2023 (30% discount on regular performances only, not applicable to preview or school performances), thereafter regular prices apply.
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