Johannesburg’s stages are full this November. Mamma Mia! and The Rocky Horror Show are playing at Montecasino, Sleeping Beauty The Musical and a pantomime are at Joburg Theatre, and The Grinch is at the National Children’s Theatre in Parktown. This guide sorts the current productions by what you want to see (a big musical, something for the kids, a puppet show), then gives prices, venues and booking details so you can choose quickly.

Run dates below are as published in early November 2026. Productions extend, sell out and change, so confirm the date and time on the venue’s own page before you pay.

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TL;DR

  • Big musicals: Mamma Mia! and The Rocky Horror Show are at Montecasino, Hairspray is in Centurion, and Sleeping Beauty The Musical is at Joburg Theatre.
  • With children: The Grinch musical at the National Children’s Theatre, Alice in Wonderland panto at Joburg Theatre, and NCT’s Aesop’s Fables and The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark.
  • Puppets: Conrad Koch and Chester Missing at Montecasino, and Janni Younge’s The Firebird, which combines puppetry and dance.
  • Budget: The shows we checked start from R150 and go up to R580, and Mamma Mia! has cheaper Tuesday seats from R200.
  • Book early: Several Rocky Horror Wednesdays are already sold out, and festive family shows fill fast.

Table of Contents

Musicals on in Johannesburg right now

Mamma Mia! at Teatro, Montecasino

The ABBA musical opened at Teatro in Fourways on 16 October 2026 after a four-week season at Cape Town’s Artscape, and the Johannesburg run was extended to 29 November because of audience demand. Weekday shows (no Mondays) start at 19:30. Saturdays run at 15:00 and 19:30, and Sundays at 14:00 and 18:00.

Prices, all including VAT, depend on the day. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 18:00 seats are R480, R380, R280 and R250. Friday, Saturday and Sunday 14:00 seats are R580, R480, R380 and R280. The cheapest night is Terrific Tuesday at R400, R300, R250 and R200. The same report notes a 20% discount for groups of 20 or more on select performances, and children under three are not permitted.

Mamma Mia ticket prices by performance category

The Rocky Horror Show at Montecasino

Richard O’Brien’s cult musical is back at the Pieter Toerien Main Theatre. Visit Gauteng lists the return season as running from 23 October to 6 December 2026, with tickets from R200 to R495. Webtickets shows a PG16 rating and a running time of two hours including the interval. The same page shows the Wednesday shows on 4, 11, 18 and 25 November as sold out, so Thursday to Sunday is where the remaining seats are.

If you want to see how the show is listed and sold elsewhere before you decide, Rocky Horror Show ticket listings give a useful comparison point. Plan your night around the show too: our Johannesburg nightlife guide covers where to go once the curtain falls.

Hairspray in Centurion

Scenario Productions has brought Hairspray back for its first professional South African staging since 2007. It plays at Die Centurion Teater from 22 October to 7 November 2026, so it is in its final days as we publish. If you want it, book now and check the Quicket page for any remaining performances.

Sleeping Beauty The Musical at Joburg Theatre

This African premiere adaptation was written by UK writer Ian Curran, with music by Simon Hanson and Peter Vint. According to the Joburg Theatre page, it plays at the Peoples Theatre from 3 November to 24 December 2026. It is a festive-season show aimed at families, and the same page says every child over one year old needs a booked seat.

Other musicals and stage shows to watch for

Into The Woods is scheduled from 3 November 2026 at 19:30 on the PT Productions listing. Mzansi Ballet’s Private Presley, Sean Bovim’s ballet, plays the Pieter Toerien Main stage at Montecasino from 24 October to 30 November, according to Montecasino. At the Market Theatre, Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty arrived on 1 November, with six local dancers and glow-in-the-dark costumes.

For a concert-style take on Broadway, see our write-up of Jonathan Roxmouth’s My Favourite Broadway. For dance at festive time, our piece on The Nutcracker at Montecasino shows how these seasons usually work.

Children’s theatre in Johannesburg

November and December are the busiest months for family theatre. These are the options with the clearest age guidance.

Show Venue Suited to Run
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical National Children’s Theatre, Parktown Families, school groups, fans of all ages 10 November to 20 December 2026
Aesop’s Fables National Children’s Theatre Families and school learners from age 4 See NCT programme
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark National Children’s Theatre Children aged 4 to 10 and families See NCT programme
Janice Honeyman’s Alice in Wonderland panto Joburg Theatre Families 28 October to 24 December 2026
Sleeping Beauty The Musical Peoples Theatre, Joburg Theatre Families (children over 1 need a seat) 3 November to 24 December 2026

The NCT details come from its programme page. The Grinch is directed by Ivor Jones and staged at 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown. NCT advises booking early because festive productions sell out fast. The panto dates are on the Joburg Theatre page.

Choosing by age

  • Under 4: Check each production’s rules first. Mamma Mia! does not admit children under three, while Sleeping Beauty at Joburg Theatre welcomes children but wants a booked seat for anyone over one.
  • Ages 4 to 10: Aesop’s Fables and The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark were programmed for this age group. Both are shorter, more intimate shows.
  • Mixed ages and grandparents: The Grinch, the panto and Sleeping Beauty are made for the whole family. Mamma Mia! has been described by producer Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management as family-friendly with broad appeal, which suits teenagers and parents.

For tickets, aim for matinee slots with younger children. A Saturday 15:00 or Sunday 14:00 start leaves room for lunch before and an early night after.

Puppet shows in Johannesburg

Puppet theatre in the city is mostly aimed at grown-ups and families together, and two productions stand out this season.

Chester’s Got Talent at Montecasino

In this 90-minute show, ventriloquist Conrad Koch and his puppets stage a talent contest, with the audience judging as each puppet makes Conrad’s problems worse. It has run at the Pieter Toerien Main Theatre since 30 September 2026, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with tickets from R150 to R220. Webtickets describes it as a night out for the whole family.

One access note: the page says there is no disabled access to the balcony, only stairs. Wheelchair seating should be booked directly with the theatre on 011 511 1988. We covered the act’s previous tour in Puppet Power Johannesburg.

The Firebird

Janni Younge’s production uses larger-than-life puppetry and dance to Stravinsky’s score. According to Webtickets, it comes to Teatro at Montecasino from 4 December 2026, with tickets from R150 to R580. It is the better choice if you want something visual and quiet rather than comic.

Puppeteer and dancer share a theatre stage

Where to see theatre in Johannesburg

Knowing the venues helps when a show you want sells out, because the same houses keep programming through the year.

  • Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein: Opened in 1962 on Braamfontein hill, it has four stages under one roof: the 1,069-seat Nelson Mandela Theatre, the Lesedi Theatre, the family-focused Peoples Theatre and a black-box space. It is open at least 50 weeks a year and is part of Joburg City Theatres, with Soweto Theatre and Roodepoort Theatre.
  • Soweto Theatre: Part of the same city group, it takes bookings by phone on 010 446 1462 as well as online.
  • Montecasino, Fourways: Home to Teatro and the Pieter Toerien Main Theatre, where most of the big commercial musicals land.
  • National Children’s Theatre, Parktown: Programming built around children, families and school groups.
  • Market Theatre, Newtown: Dance and drama, including this season’s Ballet of Lights.
  • Die Centurion Teater: For productions on the Pretoria side of the Johannesburg metro.

Tickets, prices and practical tips

What to expect to pay

Show Price range Notes
Mamma Mia! R250 to R580 Terrific Tuesday from R200, prices include VAT
The Rocky Horror Show R200 to R495 PG16, two hours with interval
Chester’s Got Talent R150 to R220 90 minutes, Thursday to Sunday
The Firebird R150 to R580 Starts 4 December

All figures come from the sources linked above and were published in 2026. Final prices depend on the seat block and the day, so check the booking page.

Before you book

  1. Pick your night first. Tuesday and mid-week performances are usually the cheaper ones. Mamma Mia! prices drop on Terrific Tuesday.
  2. Check which days have no show. Mamma Mia! has no Monday performances.
  3. Look at age rules. Rocky Horror is PG16, and Mamma Mia! does not admit children under three.
  4. Ask about access early. Some balconies are reached only by stairs, so call the theatre when you need wheelchair seating.
  5. Groups should ask for a discount. Mamma Mia! offers 20% off for groups of 20 or more on select performances.
  6. Arrive early. Montecasino and Braamfontein both get busy before evening shows, so leave time for parking and food.

Our view: why Johannesburg theatre rewards the curious

We follow Johannesburg’s cultural calendar every week, and theatre is where the city’s range shows most clearly. In one weekend you can see a Broadway-style musical in Fourways, a children’s production in Parktown and a ballet made with local dancers in Newtown.

Our advice is to treat the festive season as a chance to try something new. Bring the family to a pantomime, take a friend to a cult musical, or book a puppet show for a lighter night out. We cover these productions because they give local performers, directors and designers a stage, and that is the talent we want to put in front of you.

Book early, go midweek if you can, and tell us what you saw.

Chad

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If you are planning a full day out, our guide to Rosebank’s art galleries pairs well with an evening show.

FAQ

Which theatre shows are on in Johannesburg right now?

In early November 2026, Mamma Mia! and The Rocky Horror Show are at Montecasino, and Sleeping Beauty The Musical and a pantomime are at Joburg Theatre. The Grinch musical is at the National Children’s Theatre, and Hairspray finishes its Centurion run on 7 November. Check each venue’s page for the current schedule.

Which musicals are good for a first-time theatre-goer?

Mamma Mia! is the easiest entry point, with familiar songs and a broad audience. Tuesday seats start at R200. Rocky Horror is more irreverent and is rated PG16, so it suits adults and older teenagers.

Is there children’s theatre in Johannesburg?

Yes. The National Children’s Theatre in Parktown programmes The Grinch for all ages, Aesop’s Fables from age 4, and The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark for ages 4 to 10. Joburg Theatre has Sleeping Beauty and the Alice in Wonderland panto this festive season.

Where can I see puppet shows in Johannesburg?

Conrad Koch and Chester Missing’s Chester’s Got Talent is on at Montecasino from Thursday to Sunday, with tickets from R150 to R220. The Firebird, a puppetry and dance production, follows from 4 December.

How much do theatre tickets cost in Johannesburg?

The productions we checked range from R150 to R580. Mamma Mia! runs from R250 to R580, with Terrific Tuesday from R200. Rocky Horror runs from R200 to R495, and the puppet show from R150 to R220.

Sources