Wonderland is calling, and this festive season, Joburg Theatre is opening the door.
The theatre has unveiled the star-studded cast for Janice Honeyman’s new and original 2026 pantomime, Alice in Wonderland, promising audiences a spectacular journey filled with comedy, music, colourful costumes, outrageous characters and the kind of theatrical magic that has made the annual Janice Honeyman Pantomime a South African festive tradition.
The production runs from 28 October to 24 December 2026, giving families plenty of opportunities to tumble down the rabbit hole and experience Lewis Carroll’s beloved world on stage.
And there is an added reason to book early: the Early Bird Special offers 30% off tickets when booked by 31 August, excluding school and preview performances. The discount is already applied to bookings.
Welcome to Wonderland
First published by Lewis Carroll in 1865, Alice in Wonderland has remained one of the world’s most recognisable stories.
Its themes of curiosity, courage, identity and self-discovery continue to resonate across generations.
This new pantomime takes audiences into that wonderfully strange world through the eyes of Alice, a curious young girl who dreams of adventures beyond the ordinary.
Her journey begins when she follows a very late White Rabbit down a mysterious rabbit hole.
What follows is anything but ordinary.
Wonderland introduces her to talking animals, magical mushrooms, peculiar tea parties and characters who are impossible to forget.
There is the mischievous Cheshire Cat, eccentric Mad Hatter, wise Caterpillar, chaotic Tweedles and, of course, the formidable Queen of Hearts.
Then there is a hilarious croquet match, an outrageous tart bake-off and the mystery of the missing tarts.
In true pantomime fashion, audiences can expect plenty of laughter, music, spectacle and surprises.
Meet Alice
Leading the adventure as Alice is Ashley Scott, whose professional career began with the role of Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in 2023.
She subsequently played the lead role of Mara in the international world premiere of Disney’s The Magic Box in 2024, before appearing as a Swing and Roxie Understudy in Chicago in 2025.
She also starred in the South African debut of Pretty Woman.
Now, Scott gets to lead audiences into Wonderland.
A Pantomime Veteran Returns
If there is one name that immediately signals pantomime tradition, it is Desmond Dube.
Dube returns for his eighth Janice Honeyman Pantomime, this time taking on the role of Dame Nanny Fanny Floppalot.
With a career spanning television, film and theatre, Dube has received numerous local and international awards for his work.
Audiences will recognise him from productions including Suburban Bliss and How to Ruin Christmas, alongside his many memorable performances across stage and screen.
Lewis Carroll Gets a Voice
Russel Savadier takes on the role of Narrator Lewis Carroll, guiding audiences through the strange and wonderful adventure.
Savadier has built an extensive career across television, film and theatre.
His theatre credits include Burn This, for which he received a Best Supporting Actor award, as well as Another Country, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Comedy of Errors, Boys Next Door, Lisbon Traviata, Oleanna, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Popcorn, Waiting for Godot and Romance.
He also appeared 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.
Enter the Queen of Hearts
Every Wonderland needs a Queen.
And this one promises to be formidable.
Brendan Van Rhyn plays the Queen of Hearts, returning to the world of Janice Honeyman pantomime 25 years after his first appearance in one of her productions.
Van Rhyn is widely known for his alter ego Cathy Specific, appearing in productions including Mile High, The Triplets of Belville and Trolley Dollies, as well as serving as MC for Madame Zingara.
His theatrical credits also include Lurch in The Addams Family, Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Trevor Grayden in Thoroughly Modern Millie and more.
Now he takes on one of Wonderland’s most powerful characters.
The White Rabbit Has Arrived
Bongi Archi is stepping into the role of The White Rabbit for his 11th pantomime.
A singer, actor, music director, voice-over artist and television personality, Archi first rose to prominence through Idols South Africa in 2010.
Since then, he has become a familiar face across South Africa’s theatre and music scenes.
His previous pantomime appearances include Cinderella, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast and last year’s Pinocchio.
His career has also taken him from national festivals to international stages.
This time, he has the rather important job of leading Alice into Wonderland.
The Mad Hatter Gets His Hat
Charlie Bouguenon plays the Mad Hatter, marking his first pantomime despite having 10 Joburg Theatre productions already under his belt.
His extensive stage career spans South African classics such as Saturday Night at the Palace and Mis by Reza de Wet, protest theatre including Somewhere on the Border and Brutal Legacy, American productions such as A Raisin in the Sun and Passover, and British classics including A Christmas Carol and My Fat Friend.
He has also appeared extensively in musical theatre, with credits including Dear Evan Hansen, The Rocky Horror Show, Jersey Boys, Sweeney Todd and Dancing the Death Drill.
His one-man show Hans Steek Die Rubicon Oor was critically acclaimed.
Now, Wonderland awaits.
Meet the Rest of Wonderland
The colourful inhabitants of Wonderland will be brought to life by:
- Siya Makakane as The Cheshire Cat
- Lesedi Rich as The Caterpillar
- Danny Meaker as Jack of Hearts
The ensemble features 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.
The Creative Team Behind the Magic
As audiences have come to expect from a Janice Honeyman production, the spectacle will extend well beyond the cast.
Honeyman leads the production as director, joined by:
Associate Director: Tim Le Roux
Musical Director: Dale Ray
Choreographer: Khaya Ndlovu
Costume Designer: Mariska Meyer
Production Designer: Andrew Timm
Sound Designer: Akhona Bozo
Lighting Designer: Johan Ferreira
Together, the creative team will transform the Joburg Theatre stage into a Wonderland designed to transport audiences away from everyday reality.
A Story About Finding Yourself
Beneath the costumes, comedy and chaos, Alice in Wonderland carries a message that remains remarkably relevant.
Alice’s journey is ultimately about growing up, finding your place and discovering who you are.
As she navigates a world where nothing seems to make sense, she learns to deal with uncertainty, embrace change and trust her instincts.
That makes the story more than a colourful adventure.
It is a reminder to audiences of all ages to embrace individuality, believe in themselves and never stop imagining.
And that is precisely where pantomime can be at its most powerful: delivering meaningful themes while making audiences laugh, sing and escape into another world.
The Festive Tradition Returns
For decades, Janice Honeyman has helped establish the annual pantomime as one of South Africa’s much-loved festive theatre traditions.
With Alice in Wonderland, Joburg Theatre is once again inviting families to experience live theatre at its most spectacular.
Whether audiences are meeting Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts for the first time or returning to characters they remember from childhood, the production promises a combination of laughter, spectacular production numbers, music, heartwarming moments and plenty of Wonderland madness.
But there is no need to wait until December to make the journey.
The Early Bird Special Ends 31 August
Audiences can receive 30% off tickets when booking by 31 August 2026, excluding school and preview performances. The discount is already applied to the booking.
Janice Honeyman’s Pantomime Alice in Wonderland runs at Joburg Theatre from 28 October to 24 December 2026.
Parental guidance is advised, as some adult humour is included.
For school bookings, contact Sizwe at thandisizwe@joburgtheatre.com or 011 877 6917, or Happiness at 011 877 6853 or happiness@joburgtheatre.com.
This festive season, don’t just watch Wonderland. Tumble into it.
