Joburg Theatre unveils a star-studded cast for Janice Honeyman’s new and original 2026 Pantomime Alice in Wonderland
Johannesburg, South Africa – Get ready to tumble down the rabbit hole as Joburg Theatre proudly announces the cast of its much-anticipated 2026 Janice Honeyman Pantomime Alice in Wonderland, which runs from 28 October to 24 December 2026. Audiences of all ages are invited to step into the extraordinary world of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic, where curious characters, dazzling surprises and unforgettable musical moments bring this timeless tale to life.
Written by Lewis Carroll in 1865, Alice in Wonderland has enchanted generations with its unforgettable characters and timeless themes of curiosity, courage, identity and self-discovery. This year’s dazzling pantomime promises all the larger-than-life spectacle, comedy, original music, colourful costumes and magical surprises that audiences have come to expect from South Africa’s “Queen of the Pantomime” Janice Honeyman.
This much loved story follows the young Alice, a curious and imaginative girl who dreams of adventures beyond the ordinary. When she follows a very late White Rabbit down a mysterious rabbit hole, she finds herself in the extraordinary world of Wonderland – a place filled with talking animals, magical mushrooms, peculiar tea parties and unforgettable characters.
Along the way, Alice encounters the mischievous Cheshire Cat, the eccentric Mad Hatter, the wise Caterpillar, the delightfully chaotic Tweedles and the formidable Queen of Hearts. From a hilarious croquet match to the Queen’s outrageous tart bake-off and the mystery of the missing tarts, every scene promises laughter, music and larger-than-life entertainment.
At its heart, Alice in Wonderland is a story about growing up, finding your place in the world and discovering who you truly are. Through her extraordinary journey, Alice learns to navigate uncertainty, embrace change and trust her own instincts, proving that even the most bewildering adventures can lead to self-discovery, confidence and a deeper understanding of oneself.. Through Alice’s remarkable journey, audiences are reminded to embrace their individuality, believe in themselves and never stop imagining.
Leading this year’s magical adventure is an outstanding South African cast.
Guiding us down the rabbit hole is Alice, played by the talented Ashley Scott, who started her professional career as Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in 2023, followed by the lead role of Mara in the International World Premiere of Disney’s The Magic Box in 2024 and then in 2025 as a Swing and Roxie Understudy in Chicago, before starring in the South African debut of Pretty Woman.
Marking his eighth Janice Honeyman Pantomime, Desmond Dube will be stepping into the role of Dame Nanny Fanny Floppalot. With an impressive career spanning TV, film and stage as well as receiving numerous local and international awards for his outstanding work as a performer, he is well known for his role in the TV programme Suburban Bliss and the series How to Ruin Christmas, as well as other memorable performances on stage and screen.
Russel Savadier plays the role of Narrator Lewis Carroll as he transports audiences through this magical tale. Working extensively as an actor in TV and film, his theatre accolades include Lanford Wilson’s Burn This, for which he received a Best supporting actor award, Another Country, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Comedy of Errors, Boys Next Door, Lisbon Traviata, Oleanna, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Popcorn, Waiting for Godot, Romance and as the rapidly unravelling Theatre Director in The Play that goes Wrong and most recently in the Market Theatre’s production of The Good White.
The evil Queen of Hearts is played by Brendan Van Rhyn who first starred in a Janice Honeyman Pantomime 25 years ago. Van Rhyn is best known for his alter ego, Cathy Specific in shows like Mile High, The Triplets of Belville, Trolley Dollies, MC for Madame Zingara, as well as other theatrical productions. He also starred as Lurch in The Addams Family, Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, Frank n Furter in The Rocky Horror Show for several seasons, Trevor Grayden in Thoroughly Modern Millie and more.
Bongi Archi hops into his 11th pantomime as The White Rabbit. Bongi Archi is a dynamic and versatile entertainer, known for his work as a singer, actor, music director, voice-over artist, and TV personality. Rising to fame on Idols South Africa in 2010, he has since become a beloved figure in the country’s theatre and music scenes, starring in major pantomimes like Cinderella, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast and last year’s Pinocchio. His talents have taken him from national festivals to international stages.
Charlie Bouguenon is our Mad Hatter. He has performed in South African classics such as Saturday Night at the Palace, and the Afrikaans Mis by Reza de Wet, in South African protest theatre including Somewhere on the Border, and Brutal Legacy, American plays such as A Raisin in the Sun and Passover, and British classics A Christmas Carol and My Fat Friend. He has also been a regular in musical theatre including Dear Evan Hansen, The Rocky Horror Show, Jersey Boys, Sweeney Todd, Dancing the Death Drill and many more. He was critically acclaimed in the one-man-show Hans Steek Die Rubicon Oor. Although he has ten Joburg Theatre productions under his belt, this is his first pantomime
Bringing the colourful inhabitants of Wonderland vividly to life are Siya Makakane as The Chesire Cat, Lesedi Rich as the Caterpillar and Danny Meaker as Jack of Hearts.
The talented ensemble features (in alphabetical order):
Bo Molefe, Brett Kruger, Brian Ngobese, Bulelo Landman, Gareth Meijsen, Inge Lochner, Jessica Driver, Kiruna-Lind Devar, Lisa de Wet, Lwazi Pinyana, Matthew Potter, Noluthando Mathebula, Ntshikeng Matooane, Pule Buys, Raymond Skinner and Zimi Mphefu.
“This year’s pantomime celebrates the limitless power of imagination while reminding audiences that every person is wonderfully unique,” says Xoliswa Nduneni – Ngema, Chief Executive Officer of Joburg Theatre. “Janice Honeyman’s Pantomimes have become a treasured festive tradition for generations of South African families and Alice in Wonderland promises to be another unforgettable theatrical experience filled with laughter, heart and spectacular entertainment.”
Director Janice Honeyman says audiences can expect one of her most imaginative productions yet.
“Lewis Carroll created a world where absolutely anything can happen and that’s exactly what makes Alice in Wonderland such a joy to bring to the stage. Beneath all the fun, humour and madness is a beautiful story about finding yourself and discovering that you don’t need to change to belong. We have put together an exceptional cast who will transport audiences into a Wonderland bursting with music, colour, comedy and theatrical magic. I can’t wait for families to share this adventure together.”
Renowned for creating some of South Africa’s most beloved festive productions, Janice Honeyman once again transforms the Joburg Theatre stage into an extraordinary world where audiences can escape reality and embrace the joy of live theatre. As the home of one of South Africa’s most beloved theatrical traditions, Joburg Theatre continues to champion the enduring appeal and cultural significance of the Janice Honeyman Pantomime, a highlight on the festive calendar for audiences of all ages.
Joining her on the creative team are Associate Director Tim Le Roux, Musical Director Dale Ray, Choreographer Khaya Ndlovu, Costume Designer Mariska Meyer, Production Designer Andrew Timm, Sound Designer Akhona Bozo and Lighting Designer Johan Ferreira.
Whether you’re meeting these iconic characters for the first time or rediscovering a childhood favourite, Alice in Wonderland promises a magical adventure packed with laughter, spectacular production numbers and heartwarming moments for the whole family.
Janice Honeyman’s Pantomime Alice in Wonderland runs from 28 October to 24 December 2026.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Get 30% off tickets if you book by 31 August. Excluding school performances.
Tickets are available at http://www.joburgtheatre.com
For school bookings: Please contact Sizwe on thandisizwe@joburgtheatre.com or 011 877 6917; or Happiness – 011 877 6853 or on happiness@joburgtheatre.com
Parental guidance is advised– some adult humour included.
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