The musical shows and theatre in Johannesburg give a platform for unique entertainment, from blockbuster musicals on stage to cutting-edge performances and indie productions. We break down some of the best shows coming soon in Joburg.
Rise 76: The Story of June 16th
Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th is a powerful new South African work of historical fiction commissioned by The Market Theatre and The Baxter Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprisings.
The play is a fresh reimagining of the events of that fateful day, created by two-time Fleur du Cap award-winning playwright-director Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni.
Set in the fictional Molefe Secondary School in Soweto, the play traces a community on the brink as students, teachers and families confront the devastating implications of Afrikaans being imposed as a medium of instruction.
What begins as an ordinary school day unfolds into a moment that irrevocably shapes the course of history.
Cost: R140pp to R220pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 5 to 28 June 2026. Various days at 3pm and 7pm
Where: Mannie Manim Theatre at The Market Theatre, 138 Lilian Ngoyi St, Newtown, Johannesburg
The Rocky Horror Show
The legendary cult musical The Rocky Horror Show, is set to light up the Joburg stage all through winter.
From the moment sweethearts Brad and Janet experience a stormy night, a flat tyre and a detour to a mysterious castle, audiences are swept into a world where nothing is quite what it seems and everything is possible.
Inside the castle, they encounter the charismatic, corset-clad “sweet transvestite” Dr Frank-N-Furter, his eccentric household and the muscle-bound creation Rocky, brought to life in a riot of glitter, glam and guitar riffs. What unfolds is a deliciously subversive journey of transformation, temptation and self-realisation fuelled by rock anthems including ‘Time Warp’, ‘Sweet Transvestite’ and ‘Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul’.
Cost: R200pp to R495pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 12 June to 16 August 2026 | Wednesday to Friday at 7.30pm; Saturday at 3pm and 8pm; Sunday at 2pm and 6pm
Where: Pieter Toerien Montecasino Main Theatre, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg
Midnight in Parys
Midnight in Parys is a brand-new play by the multi-award-winning team of Lifetime Achievement Award Director Bobby Heaney, legendary playwright and performer Paul Slabolepszy, and internationally acclaimed actress Bianca Amato.
It all starts at midnight in a karaoke bar in Parys, South Africa, where two strangers meet – one running from the past and the other facing a future they can’t escape. Outside, a 2-billion-year-old asteroid crater stretches out into the distance.
Tensions run high as the two people in the bar discover they share an extraordinary secret. It’s an edge of your seat experience with an explosive end.
Cost: R200pp to R250pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 12 June to 12 July 2026 | Wednesday to Friday at 7.30pm; Saturday at 3pm and 8pm; Sunday at 2pm
Where: Studio Theatre at Montecasino, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg
The Royal Countess Zingara
Step into a world where theatre, performance art and cuisine intertwine in a dazzling spectacle as this sensory affair from Cape Town ushers in a new dazzling chapter in the City of Gold.
Guided by a Timekeeper, Joburg Zingarians are led through a journey of wonder, music, song, spectacle and daring.
Among the world-class artists performing will be former Cirque du Soleil aerial cradle specialists Juan Pablo Palacios and Victoria Perez Iacono from Argentina, rola bola balancing marvel Axel Perez from Las Vegas, acrobat Samantha Kotze from Johannesburg and The Clorettes, a vocal quartet from Cape Town.
During the show, guests are treated to a sumptuous four course dinner for palate and soul. See the menu here.
Cost: Tickets start at R1260pp and include a welcome drink, a four-course feast and the full Zingara show experience. Book via dineplan, zingara.co.za or [email protected]. Group bookings can be made via [email protected]. See the ticket info here
When: Running from 20 June from Tuesday to Sunday. Doors open at 5pm and show starts at 7.30pm
Where: Melrose Arch, Corlett Dr, Birnam, Johannesburg
All the details on this stage spectacular
Constellations at Theatre on the Square
Nick Payne’s Constellations is a spellbinding new stage production showing at the Theatre on the Square.
Through a kaleidoscope of moments between two people, Constellations explores infinite realities in which love, science, choice and quantum theory converge to create various possibilities where hope or heartbreak may be the outcome, begging the question of whether or not love can prevail across every multiverse.
The story follows Marianne, a physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper, who meet at a barbecue. From there, the possibilities are endless. They might hit it off and grab a drink together. They might go home together, or they might part ways. Perhaps their love story has a happy ending, or perhaps it is tragically cut short.
Constellations contemplates how even the smallest change in our lives can dramatically alter the course we take.
Cost: R180 per pensioner; R220pp (general admission). Book via Webtickets
When: Running from 23 June to 11 July 2026 | Monday to Friday at 7.30pm; Saturday at 5pm and 8pm; Sunday at 3pm
Where: Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, West St, Sandown, Sandton
Find out more about this cosmic love story
Worlds Away – A Journey to Circusland
Be transported into a realm of mystery, wonder, thrills and fantasy with Worlds Away – an exquisite family-friendly show for all ages to enjoy.
Follow our little star’s courageous journey through fantastical lands, tempestuous oceans and fiery fortresses in order to seek that which will truly make him shine.
This captivating tale of love and friendship provides a feast for the eyes and promises to enthrall in every scene.
Cost: R200pp to R300pp, book online
When: Running from 27 June to 16 August 2026. Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm (Limited Fridays at 7pm)
Where: The Cirk, Cresta Shopping Centre, Weltervreden Road and Beyers Naude, Randburg
Taxi Wars: Umzila The Musical
Taxi Wars: Umzila The Musical is a powerful theatrical production that explores the realities of South Africa’s taxi industry and its impact on communities, livelihoods, and everyday survival.
Through music, movement and compelling storytelling, the production captures the intensity, resilience, and complexities of an industry deeply woven into the country’s social and economic fabric.
The story follows Dlamini, a retrenched man who turns to the taxi industry in hopes of rebuilding his life and providing for his family. What begins as an opportunity for a fresh start soon draws him into a dangerous world of violence, territorial disputes and power struggles, forcing him to confront difficult choices in his fight for survival and stability.
Cost: R120pp, book via Webtickets
When: Thursday to Sunday, 2 to 5 July 2026. Various times
Where: space.com at Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Blvd, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet
Joburg Ballet and UJ Arts & Culture present ‘The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet’, a world-first Choral Ballet reimagining Euripides’ iconic tragedy through a uniquely South African lens.
The full-length ballet reinterprets the tale with a richness of movement, sound and choral tradition. The tragedy follows Dionysus, who arrives in a divided city promising freedom, ecstasy and spiritual awakening.
As his intoxicating presence sweeps through Thebes, women abandon convention and a chorus of voices rises in ecstatic defiance. Pentheus, the rigid young ruler, vows to restore order and crush the growing movement; but curiosity and desire draw him dangerously close to the very force he condemns.
The production features the powerful voices of the acclaimed UJ Choir and a live chamber orchestra.
Cost: R140pp to R1000pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 3 to 12 July 2026. Various days at 11am, 2pm and/or 7pm
Where: Mandela Theatre at Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Blvd, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
WGRUV Dance Company presents Highlights
WGRUV Dance Company debuts Highlights: Tracing the Line for two runs in Johannesburg this winter.
The programme brings together works by internationally acclaimed choreographer Jessica Lang, whose craftsmanship has defined a generation of neo-classical ballet; Jesse Obremski, whose visceral movement language cuts to the heart of human connection; Michael Trusnovec, a master of quiet power and sculptural clarity; and WGRUV’s own Holly Gruver and Lex Gruver, whose collaborative choreographic voice continues to mature into something distinctly their own.
Together, the works explore the fundamental language of the body – line, colour, weight, and meaning.
Cost: R220pp to R300pp, book via Webtickets
When: From Thursday to Sunday 9 to 12 July 2026 & From Thursday to Sunday 20 to 23 August 2026 | Thursdays at 4pm; Fridays at 7pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm
Where: July – Roodepoort Theatre, 100 Christiaan de Wet Rd, Florida Park, Roodepoort | August – UJ Arts & Culture, Kingsway Ave, Auckland Park, Johannesburg
The Big Bad Musical
The Big Bad Musical is a new joyful and interactive family courtroom comedy musical where YOU, as the audience, get to decide the verdict.
Fairy-tale Land is in an uproar as the notorious Big Bad Wolf is hauled into court and slapped with a class-action lawsuit by some of the most famous characters in storybook history.
Little Red Riding Hood, her Grandmother, the Three Little Pigs, and a host of other familiar faces are determined to prove that the Wolf is a menace to society once and for all.
Presiding over the biggest trial ever to hit the fairy-tale world, Judge Wise Old Man must listen as witness after witness takes the stand to share their version of events.
With the Fairy Godmother leading the prosecution and the Wolf’s unlikely defence team fighting to clear his name, the courtroom quickly descends into a hilarious battle of accusations, surprises and unexpected twists.
Cost: R100pp to R150pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 16 to 30 July 2026, various times
Where: Main Theatre and Garden, Roodepoort Theatre, 100 Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park, Roodepoort
Cape Ballet Africa’s Swan Lake
Cape Ballet Africa and Global Star Events are bringing one of the world’s most beloved ballet productions, Swan Lake, to Joburg stages following their successful, sold-out run of The Nutcracker in December 2025.
Swan Lake is the pinnacle of classical ballet, having dazzled audiences for generations, elegantly using motion to tell a story of passion, devotion and betrayal.
The ballet tells the story of Prince Siegfried, whose heart is captured by Odette, a princess cursed to live as a swan by day. Their fates entwine in a powerful struggle against evil, where love must prove stronger than the sorcery that seeks to tear them apart.
Cost: From R220pp to R720pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 7 to 21 August 2026 | Mondays & Wednesdays to Sundays (No Tuesday shows). Matinees and afternoon shows are on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at 1pm and 3pm. Wednesday and Thursday shows are at 7pm, and Fridays are at 7.30pm (except 21 August show which is at 3pm)
Where: The Teatro at Monte Casino, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Pieter Toerien Productions revives Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd with a South African cast, for a South African audience.
Retired detective Hercule Poirot is pulled back into the business and enlists the help of the village doctor and police inspector to find out who murdered Roger Ackroyd, the master of Fernly Hall and the patriarch of a strangely dysfunctional family.
Amid the multitude of motives and a labyrinth of alibis, Poirot comes to accept that solving crimes suits him much better than retirement does. Alan Committie reprises his role as Poirot in this production packed with thrills, surprises, laughs and gasp-inducing twists.
Cost: R150pp to R300pp, book via Webtickets
When: Running from 21 August to 27 September 2026 | Wednesday to Friday at 7.30pm; Saturday at 3pm and 7.30pm; Sunday at 3pm
Where: Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg
Prima Facie at The Market Theatre
Following a successful run in London where it was nominated for (and won) multiple prestigious awards, Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie makes a South African debut this spring.
Prima Facie follows Tessa, an ambitious barrister who has worked her way to the very top of her profession, becoming a champion of the judicial system in the process.
But, following a brutal attack against her, Tessa’s ideas about justice and the integrity of the law are entirely challenged. As she herself is put on trial, retraumatised by her attack, questioned and cross-examined in the same ways that she has questioned others, she is forced to reevaluate her beliefs.
Prima Facie is a hard-hitting look at the “patriarchal power of the law” where the burden of proof and existing rules of evidence often work against victims of sexual violence.
Cost: R140pp to R220pp (half-price Wednesdays); R50pp (50th Year – code required). Book via Quicket
When: Running from 17 September to 4 October 2026 | Wednesday to Friday at 7pm; Saturday at 3pm and/or 7pm; Sunday at 3pm
Where: Barney Simon at The Market Theatre, 138 Lilian Ngoyi St, Newtown, Johannesburg
Find out more about this powerful story
