Some theatres entertain children. Peoples Theatre has helped raise them.
For 37 years, this Joburg institution has filled little hearts with wonder, laughter, songs, fairies, giants, animals, heroes, villains, and the kind of theatrical magic that sticks with you long after the curtain falls. In a world where childhood seems to be growing up faster than ever, there is something deeply comforting about a place that still believes in imagination, audience participation, and the joy of watching a child gasp because something magical has just happened on stage.
This July marks Peoples Theatre’s birthday month, and instead of quietly blowing out the candles, they are celebrating with the sort of announcement that deserves a proper round of applause.
Peoples Theatre has secured the rights to present the African Premiere production of Sleeping Beauty The Musical, which will run at the theatre from Tuesday, 3 November to Thursday, 24 December 2026.
Yes, Sleeping Beauty is coming to Joburg. And not just any version. This is a modern musical adaptation, with original songs, a fresh take on the beloved fairy tale, and a story designed for children, families, schools, and anyone who still enjoys a bit of stage magic without needing to pretend they are only there “for the kids”.
A Birthday Worth Celebrating
Founded in 1989, Peoples Theatre has become one of Johannesburg’s most treasured theatre spaces for children and families. Since becoming resident at Joburg Theatre in 2000, the company has staged more than 200 productions and welcomed well over 1.2 million children through its doors.
That number is not just impressive. It is emotional.
Think about it. More than 1.2 million children have sat in those seats, watched stories come alive, shouted at villains, cheered for heroes, clapped along to songs, and possibly asked their parents a thousand questions on the drive home. That is no small thing. That is cultural memory being made one school outing, one family weekend, and one wide-eyed child at a time.
Peoples Theatre has long understood something very important. Children do not need theatre to be watered down. They need it to be alive. They need colour, energy, humour, music, and characters they can love or loudly disapprove of from their seats. They need stories that meet them where they are, while quietly teaching them something about courage, kindness, friendship, and making better choices than the villain, which, frankly, is a lesson some adults could also revisit.
Now, as the theatre celebrates its 37th birthday, Sleeping Beauty The Musical feels like the perfect next chapter.
A New Spin On A Classic Tale
Most of us know the traditional Sleeping Beauty story in one form or another. A princess. A curse. A spinning wheel. A long sleep. A prince. A kiss. A kingdom waiting for everything to be put right again.
This new musical version keeps the fairy tale heart but gives the story a more modern pulse.
Sleeping Beauty The Musical follows Princess Aurora on a journey of self-discovery. Cursed as a child, she is raised in hiding, away from the dangers that threaten her future. But when a chance meeting with Prince Perrault sets things in motion, Aurora is pulled into an adventure filled with danger, duty, identity, and the battle between good and evil.
At the centre of it all is Princess Aurora, who must find her own path while navigating the expectations placed on her as royalty. She is not simply waiting for her story to happen to her. She has dreams of her own, choices to make, and a kingdom whose future may depend on her courage.
Standing in her way is the wicked Hellisent, a villain with throne-stealing ambitions and enough dramatic energy to keep things interesting. Add magical fairies, raven spies, royal responsibilities, a charming prince, and a kingdom called Australis, and suddenly this is not just the Sleeping Beauty you remember from childhood. It is a new adventure with familiar roots.
In other words, the castle may be classic, but the attitude has had a proper refresh.
The African Premiere Comes To Johannesburg
One of the most exciting parts of this announcement is that Sleeping Beauty The Musical has been staged in the United Kingdom and across America, but never before in Africa.
That changes in November 2026, when Peoples Theatre brings the production to Johannesburg for its African Premiere.
For a theatre that has spent decades introducing young audiences to the wonder of live performance, this is a beautiful full-circle moment. It gives local families and schools the chance to experience a musical that has already travelled internationally, while making Joburg the first African home for this version of the story.
Writer and lyricist Ian Curran shared his excitement about the upcoming production, explaining that the show is based on the traditional fairy tale but offers a very modern spin on the old story. With all original songs and a focus on Princess Aurora’s journey of self-discovery, the musical promises to bring warmth, fun, and a little bit of magic to audiences of all ages.
Curran describes it as a heart-warming tale suitable for children from 3 to 103, which is exactly the kind of age range we appreciate. After all, some of us may be grown-ups on paper, but put us in front of a musical fairy tale and suddenly we are mentally buying a plastic crown at interval.
A Story About Love, Bravery And Finding Your Own Way
Fairy tales endure because they carry simple truths in magical clothing.
Sleeping Beauty The Musical may be filled with spells, fairies, curses, royal drama, and theatrical sparkle, but at its heart, it is about something very human. It is about growing into who you are meant to be. It is about choosing kindness when the world is not kind. It is about bravery, resilience, love, and the belief that darkness does not get the final word.
Producer and director Jill Girard says she is thrilled to be directing and producing this new version in Johannesburg. She describes the production as being packed with laughter and magical moments, with plenty of audience participation so that everyone can join in the fun.
That interactive spirit is a huge part of what makes Peoples Theatre special. Their productions do not simply happen in front of children. They happen with them. Young audiences are invited into the story, encouraged to respond, and allowed to feel like they are part of the adventure.
For families, that is gold. For teachers, it is a gift. For children, it is unforgettable.
Girard also notes that the musical teaches that good will always triumph over evil, and that true love, patience, and resilience can overcome even the darkest curse. At its heart, the story reminds us that kindness and love will always prevail.
It is a message that feels timeless, especially in a world that often feels noisy, rushed, and a little short on patience.
A Holiday Treat For The Whole Family
The timing of Sleeping Beauty The Musical could not be better. Running from 3 November to 24 December 2026, the production lands perfectly in the end-of-year season, making it an ideal festive outing for families, school groups, grandparents, and anyone looking for something joyful to do with the children before the year wraps up.
There is a particular charm to family theatre during the festive season. The year has been long. Everyone is tired. Parents are trying to keep children entertained. Schools are winding down. December is creeping closer with all its chaos, shopping lists, family plans, and “what are we doing with the kids today?” moments.
Then along comes a musical filled with fairies, songs, magic, adventure, and a princess trying to claim her own story. That is not just entertainment. That is a well-timed rescue mission.
Whether your child loves princesses, music, villains, fairies, fantasy worlds, or simply the thrill of live theatre, Sleeping Beauty The Musical looks set to deliver the kind of outing that feels special without losing the warmth and accessibility that Peoples Theatre is known for.
Why Peoples Theatre Still Matters
There is something powerful about a theatre space dedicated to children.
For many young audience members, Peoples Theatre may be their first experience of live performance. Their first time sitting in a proper theatre seat. Their first time seeing actors perform right in front of them. Their first time realising that stories do not only live inside books, screens, or bedtime routines. They can sing. They can dance. They can make you laugh. They can surprise you.
That first experience matters.
A good children’s production can plant a lifelong love of theatre. It can teach children how to listen, imagine, respond, and feel. It can show them that art is not something distant or fancy. It is something they are allowed to enjoy.
People’s Theatre has been doing that work for decades.
More than 200 productions later, their mission still feels clear. Create work that is joyful, engaging, accessible, and meaningful. Give children stories they can understand and moments they can remember. Make theatre feel like a place where families belong.
Sleeping Beauty The Musical fits beautifully into that legacy. It is familiar enough to feel welcoming, new enough to feel exciting, and magical enough to remind us why stories like this keep finding new generations.
Booking Details
Sleeping Beauty The Musical will be produced by Peoples Productions in collaboration with Joburg Theatre and presented by arrangement with Curran Media Group Ltd.
The production features book and lyrics by Ian Curran, with music by Simon Hanson and Peter Vint.
SLEEPING BEAUTY THE MUSICAL
Performances are from Tuesday, 3 November – Thursday, 24 December 2026
Show times for schools are Tuesday to Friday at 09:00 am and 11:00 am.
Show times for the public are 10h30 and 14h30 – Saturdays & Sundays and during school holidays.
Ticket Prices:
- R180 per person for members of the public
- R145 if you are a member of the People’s Theatre Kids Club
- R155 for public accompanying members
School Bookings are now OPEN!
For school group rates, please contact the theatre directly
PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Call 011 877 6841 or email info@peoplestheatre.co.za for bookings or enquiries.
You can also book online at www.joburgtheatre.com or via Webtickets
A Little Bit Of Magic For A New Generation
The Disney version of Sleeping Beauty was staged at People’s Theatre in the early 2000s, but the story has not been seen there since then. That makes this new production especially exciting. A whole new generation of children will now get to discover Aurora, the fairies, the curse, the villain, the kingdom, and the joy of watching a fairy tale unfold live on stage.
And perhaps that is the most beautiful part of this announcement.
People’s Theatre is not only celebrating its own history. It is making room for new memories.
Somewhere in Johannesburg, there is a child who will sit in the audience later this year, watch the lights go down, hear the music begin, and feel the room change. They may not know that the theatre has been doing this for 37 years. They may not know about the 200 productions or the 1.2 million children who came before them.
They will simply know that something magical is happening.
And really, that is the point.
People’s Theatre has spent 37 years proving that wonder still matters. With Sleeping Beauty The Musical, they are ready to prove it all over again.
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