The boy who cried Ninja - Take the kids

THE BOY WHO CRIED NINJA 

By Alex Latimer

Adapted and directed by JENINE COLLOCOTT

with TARYN BENNETT, JAMES CAIRNS and TONI MORKEL

Designed by ALISTAIR FINDLAY

Original Score by SUE GREALY

Puppets by ANDY JONES

Daphne Kuhn and Contagious Theatre's new show, The Boy Who Cried Ninja, is still on until 22 December at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square. The show is based on Alex Latimer’s book of the same name and we totally agree with the rave reviews from local theatre critics. It is aimed at young families - recommended for children between 4 - 10 years - but we know older kids would find it just as delightful!

The Boy who cried Ninja - Alexa Latimer 

We were invited to attend the show on Saturday. It is well worth going to Auto & General Theatre on the Square as the vibe in Mandela Square is festive at this time of the year. It makes for a great outing lingering there before and after the show.

The boy who cried Ninja is a story with a subtle lesson about honesty.

In the show, Tim witnesses some strange happenings around his house, but no one believes his explanations. In fact, no matter what Tim says, his parents just punish him with chores. To save himself, he hatches a clever plan to expose the truth. Will it work, or will Tim have to spend the rest of his life raking the yard?

The boy who cried Ninja - Contagious Theatre: Throwing balls into theatre

The show is bubbling with humour from start to finish, and keeps children and parents laughing out loud. Taryn Bennett is superb in the role of Tim. We love how she makes Tim come alive with all the mannerisms of a lively boy.

The boy who cried ninja, by Alex Latimer - still on until 22 December. We had such a great time this afternoon 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Well done @ContagiousStory #theboywhocriedninja#contagioustheatre#theatreonthesquaresandton#alexlatimer#thingstodowithchildren pic.twitter.com/mKOOAi0gLl

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) December 15, 2018

Bookings  can be made through Computicket or can be made by calling the theatre on 011 883-8606.

It's only the last few days, and this show is so special! Please take the kids.


Disclaimer: We got tickets to attend the show on Saturday

Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR at Peoples Theatre - WOW!

Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR #BeautyBeastJR

Jill Girard and Keith Smith have done it again with the most recent production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR at Peoples Theatre. It's amazing, entertaining and totally different than the previous shows. It's not only theatre for young people, but for the whole family. The "storybook comes to life" shows are always a total treat. I am surprised each time at how creative they use the stage and the characters while still staying true to the original story. Well done! This is a great way to introduce children to theatre, and making them want to come back for more.

Miss Fine asked for the first time about the kids playing in the show.  How do they get to be there? They are such wonderful actors already, and inspires her immensely. I had to tell her about the auditions, but hopefully she forgets to ask again (*thumbs crossed*). It looks like they have so much fun on stage, but I am thinking about all the repetition and hard work and getting the children there...

MomAgain@40 clan at People's Theatre

Miss Fine waiting for the show to start at People's Theatre

We were blown away by the set and lighting for this show. The transparent drops with moving images added so much more to the eerie and somber scenes.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR will be on until 24 December. It will be great for an exam reliever or a great holiday outing in December.

Final bow at Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Related:

Upbeat Annie JR at Peoples Theatre 

Beneath African Skies at the Peoples Theatre


Disclaimer: We got tickets to attend the show on Friday night. Thanks, Peoples Theatre and Buz Publicity

WIN tickets to Alice in Wonderland at the People's Theatre

Disney's Alice in Wonderland - People's Theatre

We love the People's Theatre. The excitement and introduction to theatre for children are unsurpassed. We are so glad that they are going down the rabbit hole this upcoming holidays! Crazy, mad and wonderful Alice in Wonderland is always great escapism for the whole family.

In March and April, travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature’s most beloved heroines, on her madcap adventures. The ever-curious Alice’s journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit.  Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar  is shrunk, stretched, scratched and stuffed into a teapot, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!

Based on the Alice books by Lewis Carroll, the Peoples Theatre’s version of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland will bring all your favourite, wacky characters to life. And don’t forget the crazy ditties. Expect to hear all of them - from “In a World of My Own” to “I'm Late” to “The Unbirthday Song”.

Beneath African Skies at The Peoples Theatre - take the whole family!

Beneath African Skies - Photo op

Jill Gerard and Keith Smith are responsible again for a wonderful engaging and entertaining production at the Peoples Theatre!

We were invited to opening night on Friday, and Little Miss had a ball! The African stories are so much fun, especially when the actors ask for willing participants! All the children wants to join in! We love the music which is all well-known to the big ones and the little ones!

Mamma Mia! - Great show

 I was lucky enough to win two tickets to the opening night of Mamma Mia! at Montecasino on Tuesday. It is a bit difficult in the middle of the week to attend shows, especially when it is two and half hours... (we only got to bed after midnight). But it was extremely enjoyable!

The international cast is very professional. They have been to 77 cities in 36 countries and have been seen by over 4.5 million people.

The highlight was the three "older" ladies in the roles of the mother and friends of hers!  Also of course 22 of ABBA's songs. The audience really loved singing along, especially when they performed some of the songs again at the encore at the end! The ladies in the audience also got a lot of eye-candy from the male dancers/singers in the show! An all-round feel good entertainment!

We were sitting in the middle, but had no problem with the view or sound. There was a short break in the beginning, when they announced a technical glitch, but it was quickly sorted. I wish I could have taken photos during the show, because the lighting and characters are very colourful!

The obligatory selfie, me with a red nose because of a cold

Radio 2000, M-Net and Fairlady presented the show here in South Africa. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Fairlady celebrated it's 50th birthday. Every second seat had a Fairlady magazine.

Fairlady has been one of my choice magazines since I was a young girl. My mother used to buy one every week. Then I bought them when I went to university. We had a standing movie day on a Wednesday where we went to Johannesburg to watch a movie, but also to buy our magazines to read them in the afternoons... (*sigh* - those were the days!) 

I still buy a Fairlady when I have something left on the budget (or Not!...).

I highly recommend Mamma Mia!
I don't even like musicals, but with the music and the great performances it makes it worth seeing!

At the Festival with a Little One - #Aardklop

Going to a festival with a Little One is a total different ball-game!

We went only for a day; on Saturday. The Potchefstroom Clover Aardklop festival, with mostly Afrikaans cultural shows, music and theater shows, was on for the past week. The Student was working at the festival for the whole week, and we missed her! It was great to see her for half an hour in-between her work schedule.

We were a bit lot disgusted that we had to pay such a huge amount to get into the festival area. The previous years there were no fees involved. You had access to everything. Which meant that we did not go there at all! And I was salivating for the obligatory fish and sweet potato tent...

But there were still lots to do in Potchefstroom!

We spend some time at the swings. (As you do!)

The venue for the show had lots to keep the children busy.

We watched a show about fairies, and got the photo next to her favourite fairy in the play.
Little Missy loved it!

Droombos se nuwe prinsessie
(Dream forest's new princess)

After the play we spent some time at the River Cafe.

The view from River Cafe

Great food, although they only have a small kitchen,
and you have to wait a bit longer

We will come back to this place. It was a great way to end the day in Potch!

And then it was back on the road before it was too dark...


A total different way to spend at an Art Festival, but we wouldn't want it any other way!


How was you weekend?

Sleeping Beauty is a hit!

Disney's Sleeping Beauty is still on at the People's Theatre at the Joburg Theatre Complex in Braamfontein.

We went to see it the previous weekend.

It is still on until the 21 of April.

It is worth it to sign in to the Kid's Club. The birthday girl or boy get a free show each year, and they get invited on to the stage. The people accompanying the member also gets to pay less each time! (Always a win!)

It really is a hit with the children.
The older children, age 10 to 80, enjoyed it just as much! (Hubby and The Student included!)

There are a regular update of photos on the People's Theatre Facebook page if you want to see some photos of the show. The costumes and characters are a real treat!

Our Little Missy laughed and got frightened (Maleficent IS scary!) and hid underneath her dad's arm and laughed again.

By the break all the children had a light stick/sword (an extra R30), but it all contributed to the fun!

We will be back for the next Aristocats coming up.

(This is not a sponsored post.)