It’s official: the festive season has descended on Johannesburg like fairy dust, and Janice Honeyman is once again leading the sleigh straight into wonderland. Her 38th annual pantomime, Pinocchio, has taken over the Joburg Theatre, and it’s not just another quickly put together show; FAR from it, it’s a technicolour fever dream that could light up Braamfontein all by itself.
The curtain rises, and suddenly the ordinary world vanishes. Nostalgia fills the air, and young and old is ready to enjoy. The lights blaze, the band booms, and the stage explodes in a kaleidoscope of colour where wooden boys dance, fairies sparkle, and talking crickets sing in perfect pitch. It’s the kind of theatrical alchemy only Honeyman can conjure, a world where chaos feels like joy and magic feels like home. From the first note to the final confetti cannon, Pinocchio is a wild, heart-thumping celebration of everything good about live theatre.
The Cast: Mischief, Mayhem, and Miracles
Katlego Nche’s Pinocchio is pure sunshine in suspenders. He bounces across the stage with the kind of giddy energy that makes you want to join him. Bongi Archi’s Geppetto Spoletto has the warmth of a well-loved bedtime story, and Gina Shmukler’s Blue Fairy is all glitter, grace, and glorious attitude, part guardian angel, part glamour icon.
But the true scene-stealers are the comic powerhouses. Sandi Dlangalala’s Jiminy Cricket is smoother than silk and twice as charming, making morality feel positively funky. And Tiaan Rautenbach’s Dame Arletti Spaghetti? A walking, singing, rhinestone explosion of comedic genius. Every wink, wiggle, and one-liner hits like confetti. He doesn’t just break the fourth wall, he kicks it down in heels.
Honeyman’s villains are deliciously devious, too. Brenda Radloff and Camilla Waldman slink through their scenes as the conniving cat-and-fox duo, a mix of menace and mischief that keeps kids gasping and adults grinning. Mark Richardson’s Strombolio hams it up with glee, while Lesedi Rich’s Lampwick could convince anyone that trouble is far too fun to resist.
A Visual Spell You Can Practically Touch
This production doesn’t just raise the bar, it turns it into a rollercoaster and invites you to scream from the front seat. Andrew Timm and Enos Ramoroko’s set design is a sensory feast. Giant LED screens shimmer with moving worlds, puppet workshops, pirate ships, candy forests, even a glow-in-the-dark techno train that zips through the crowd. It’s like stepping into a dream and finding it’s interactive.
Then come Mariska Meyer’s costumes, which deserve their own standing ovation. Think Italian carnival meets glitter factory. Sequins, feathers, jellyfish hats, even the villains sparkle. It’s a visual overload in the best possible way, the kind that makes your jaw drop and your inner child do cartwheels.
And oh, the music. Dale Ray’s live band keeps the whole show buzzing. From amapiano beats to pop anthems and the cheekiest sprinkle of K-pop, the score is a love letter to rhythm itself. When the inevitable singalong hits, the theatre erupts. Kids are dancing, parents are pretending they’re not, and grannies are mouthing every lyric with suspicious accuracy.
Heartstrings and Laughter Lines
Beneath the glitter and gags beats the unmistakable heart of Janice Honeyman. Pinocchio might be packed with chaos and comedy, but it never loses its soul. It’s about honesty, courage, love, and the messy joy of trying to become your truest self. Honeyman doesn’t lecture, she invites. Every moral lands softly, tucked between belly laughs and bursts of applause.
Yes, there are cheeky product plugs and slang that might send your grandparents scrambling for Google, but that’s part of the charm. Honeyman speaks to everyone, the young, the young-at-heart, and the ones who just came for the fairy wings.
The Verdict: Believe the Hype
Pinocchio isn’t just a pantomime. It’s an annual ritual of joy where South African humour, music, and magic collide. It’s the kind of show that leaves you smiling long after you’ve stepped back into the real world. You’ll laugh until your cheeks hurt, hum the songs in traffic, and maybe even check your nose in the mirror just to be sure.
Janice Honeyman has done it again. She’s made the impossible feel effortless and the ordinary feel extraordinary. Whether you’re six or sixty, Pinocchio will remind you that magic is very real, and for a few glorious hours, it’s happening right in front of you.
No strings attached.
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