December 18, 2006
By Tammy O'Reilly
STUMPED about how to keep the kids entertained these holidays and dreading those three little words, "Mom, I'm bored"? Well, there are plenty of shows at theatres and activities at shopping centres around Johannesburg that they will undoubtedly enjoy.
Stuart Little
The National Children's Theatre puts on a charming performance of Disney's
Stuart Little, complete with props, colourful costumes and educational lyrics. Kids can join the mouse Stuart Little on his adventure as he goes in search of his friend, a bird named Margolo.
Stuart faces many challenges, like being a mouse in a family of humans, how to drive a car, and how to deal with being tinier than everyone and everything around him.
Performances are from Monday to Saturday at 10.30am and 2.30pm until 20 December. Tickets are available at Computicket for R61,50 for children under 13 and R71,50 for adults. Alternatively, tickets can be bought at the theatre for R55 for children younger than 12 and R65 for adults.
Contact the National Children's Theatre on 011 484 1584 for bookings or for more information. The theatre is at 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown.
There is ample free parking available on the premises.
Cinderella
The rags to riches tale of
Cinderella, on at the People's Theatre, will leave kids spellbound. It's filled with all the ingredients that make it a classic, like magical spells, evil family members and the never-fail prince charming.
Having a ball...the Ugly Sisters Poison and Ivy do their utmost to charm the Prince
in Cinderella on at the People's Theatre until 24 December
Kids will be enchanted with the costumes and the clumsy and conniving evil stepsisters. This show promises to be fun for children, but adults who still have a sense of magic are also bound to enjoy it.
The show runs until 24 December. Performances are at 10.30am and 2.30pm from Monday to Saturday. Tickets are R70 and R45 for members of the theatre's Kids Club. They are available from the theatre on 011 403 1563 or at Computicket.
The People's Theatre is at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex on Loveday Street, Braamfontein. For more information, contact the theatre on 011 403 1563 or visit The People's Theatre website.
Aladdin
Aladdin's magic carpet has steered him to the Nelson Mandela Theatre this year. Kids can hop on board and accompany him and his very likeable love interest, KB Kool Kitten, on their adventures of fun and trouble.
The pantomime by Janice Honeyman features a dazzling array of costumes, catchy tunes and a cast made up of some well-known names, like boy band Eden and actor-comedian Desmond Dube.
The show runs until 31 December and tickets range from R115 to R175, excluding booking fees. Call Computicket on 083 915 8000 or visit the Computicket website.
Special group discounted tickets for parties of 10 or more can be bought directly from VIP Ticketing on 011 877 6854. The Nelson Mandela Theatre is at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex on Loveday Street, Braamfontein.
Cresta Shopping Centre
It seems shopping centres are providing as much fun for kids as they do for shoppers this Christmas. Cresta Shopping Centre has a great line-up of entertainment, even after working hours on week days.
On 20 and 22 December from 6pm to 8pm face painters, a unicyclist, balloon shaping artists, mime artists clowns and pirates will keep the kids occupied at the amphitheatre.
Christmas just wouldn't be the same without Father Christmas and kids can catch him just before he makes his gift delivery on 22 and 23 December from 11am to 2pm.
Fridays and Saturdays between 10am and 6pm is the perfect time to go shopping with the kids as various Christmas characters will be roaming the centre with bags of goodies for young and old.
Call Cresta Shopping centre on 011 678 5306.
B&B Markets Rooftop
B&B Markets Rooftop is the ideal place to spend the last Sunday before Christmas. Get your shopping done while Father Christmas and his friends entertain the kids on Sunday, 24 December from 10am to 4 pm.
The market is in Cradock Avenue in the Rosebank Mall parking lot. Entrance is free. For more information on what the market offers, visit the B&B Markets website.
B&B Markets Hillfox
On Thursday, 21 December, the Hillfox market is the ideal place for the whole family. For mums and dads shopping hours have been extended from 2pm to 9pm and for the kiddies, a family circus will provide some exciting entertainment from 7pm onwards.
The circus includes performing poodles and internationally acclaimed circus performer Angela Di Lello.
On Saturday 23 December children will be able to catch Father Christmas and his reindeer before he makes his Christmas Eve deliveries.
Entrance is free. For more information on what the market offers, visit the B&B Markets website.
Pirates of the Reef
This festive season, Gold Reef City Theme Park offers a day of fun for the whole family. Besides the many dizzying rides to sample, Gold Reef City is inviting children to come aboard with the Pirates of the Reef for an all-action adventure show.
This live participation show includes international star-studded acts as well as Captain Crook and his Pirate Bandits. It is bound to entertain anyone with treasure in their eyes and fire in their hearts.
Don't miss the street parade that takes place on weekends and every day during the holidays. The parade begins at 2pm; theme park entertainers ensure a spectacular parade full of colour and magic.
Also unmissable is the Reptile Extravaganza, where visitors can meet Bob, an albino Burmese python, Barry the Burmese, Bruce the bearded dragon, Daytona the iguana and many other exotic reptiles. With shows daily throughout the December holidays, it is an experience the kids will never forget.
The Reptile Extravaganza takes place daily in the Golden Amphitheatre next to the farmyard.
Pirates of the Reef runs at the Hippodrome till 7 January 2007. There are two shows daily, at 12pm and 3.30pm and ticket prices range from R120 to R160 at Computicket. For more information call the Hippodrome on 011 248 6800.
The Gold Reef City Theme Park is at 14 Shaft Street, Northern Parkway Drive, Ormonde.
Brian Boswell's Circus
A visit to the circus is never dull and this festive season the popular Brian Boswell's Circus provides entertainment for children of all ages.
The circus is at Monte Casino this year and it has all the offerings that make circuses popular, like tigers, clowns, fire eaters, trapeze artists and magicians full of tricks. It is on until 6 January 2007.
Ticket prices range from R40 to R80 per person and performance times vary.
For bookings or more information contact 083 629 7799.
The circus can be found at Monte Casino, on the corner of Witkoppen Road and Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways.
Sandton City
Sandton City may be considered a paradise for shoppers, but this festive season it's possible that children will be having the most fun as the mall has a jam-packed programme for youngsters from 11am to 5pm.
On Tuesday, 19 December, JoJo's Circus will awe kids with a stilt-walking marionette. There is also a workshop on how to make puppets and bake clown cookies and the day will end with a clown making balloons of different shapes and sizes.
Kids can catch the likeable Winnie the Pooh at Sandton City
On Wednesday, 20 December the programme gets a little more serious but it is still entertaining with performances by the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and a violin school. There is also an art workshop and one on how to make you own musical instrument.
Break dancing, graffiti demos, workshops on how to create you own graffiti poster and how to make a dragon door hanger are on the cards for Thursday, 21 December. Winnie the Pooh and Tigger make an appearance at the shopping centre on Friday, 22 December. They will show children how to make and decorate their own honeypots.
It's the turn of Mickey Mouse and Goofy on Saturday, 23 December. Kids can make and decorate their own Mickey Christmas cards and decorations. Shopping on Christmas Eve need not be a nightmare as shopping hours at Sandton City have been extended to 6pm, with plenty of children's entertainment.
The Princesses of Disney will meet at the Centre Stage on 24 December, where children can dance with Cinderella and Prince Charming. They can also decorate starfish biscuits with Ariel, The Little Mermaid.
Children can have their photos taken with Father Christmas at the Fountain court on weekdays from 10am to 8pm. Entrance to all Sandton City activities is free.
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