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.
Behind The Crimson Door
Behind The Crimson Door is an exhilarating new theatre and fashion fusion production created by performance company, The Cirk, in collaboration with celebrated local fashion designer, Gert-Johan Coetzee, for his Spring Summer 2027 showcase at South African Fashion Week.
The production blends couture, aerial performance and storytelling, weaving a powerful narrative about courage, ambition and the transformative power of pursuing one’s dreams. For Coetzee, this production represents a natural creative evolution.
The designer has always drawn inspiration from the emotional power of stage productions, musicals and dramatic storytelling, where costume, movement and narrative combine to create unforgettable moments.
Cost: R200pp to R350pp, book online
When: Running from 24 April to 14 June 2026 | Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 7pm & Limited Sundays at 2pm
Where: The Cirk, Cresta Shopping Centre, Weltervreden Road and Beyers Naude, Randburg
Get the details on this fusion production
The Unlikely Secret Agent
In 1963, South Africa, when political tensions are rife and the suppression of anti-apartheid resistance is at its most brutal, Eleanor, an unassuming, young single mother is arrested at Griggs Bookstore where she works in Durban and taken for questioning.
She finds herself detained under the 90-day detention act and brutally interrogated as the police are on the hunt for her lover, the notorious “terrorist” Red Ronnie Kasrils. Ronnie is wanted for his involvement in a string of sabotage bombings across the country in the name of the resistance.
But what the police don’t know about Eleanor is that she is a secret agent for the Underground ANC who is committed to protecting her comrades. She makes the daring decision to fake a nervous breakdown in order to be transferred to a psychiatric institution. From there, she begins to plot her escape.
Cost: R150pp (half-price on Wednesdays); book via Webtickets
When: Running from 5 to 21 June 2026. Various days at 11am, 3pm and 7pm
Where: ARENA at South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria
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
Nkoli: A fierce and fabulous life
Nkoli: A Fierce and Fabulous Life is a groundbreaking theatrical production honouring the life and legacy of Simon Nkoli, a gay anti-apartheid freedom fighter who was charged with treason during the Delmas Treason Trial and, upon his release, organised Johannesburg’s first Pride march.
He played a pivotal role in ensuring that LGBTQI+ rights were protected in South Africa’s Constitution. Nkoli died in 1998 at the age of 41 from AIDS-related illnesses during a time when antiretroviral treatment was being denied in South Africa.
The musical production traces Simon’s journey from his childhood in Sebokeng township to his rise as a leader in the struggle against apartheid and homophobia. It is a story of courage, unity, love and resistance set against one of the most turbulent decades in South African history. The production premiered successfully at Market Theatre in November 2023 and had a sellout run in Cape Town at the Baxter in 2024. It will return to Johannesburg in June 2026.
Nkoli is back in Johannesburg for four performances only before its European Premiere at the prestigious Theater Der Welt Festival in Chemnitz, Germany.
The work ignites dialogue around the values Simon stood for and what it means for young people today to continue the fight for equality and justice.
Drawing from the history of the ballroom and vogue scene as a sanctuary for LGBTQI+ self-expression, the production blends opera, voguing, protest songs, dance and video projection to tell a powerful story of resilience and resistance.
The production is created and composed by Philip Miller, with libretto by Miller and S’bo Gyre, choreography by Llewellyn Mnguni, and produced by Musorelief SA [NPC].
Watch this 45 second trailer which gives you a taste of this fierce and fabulous musical which is about to take Joburg by storm on its way to Germany.
Cost: R250pp; R170pp for pensioners; R80pp for students. Book via Quicket
When: Friday, 12 June at 7pm. Saturday, 13 June at 2pm and 7pm
Where: Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre, Kingsway Campus, UJ Arts and Culture Centre, Corner of Kingsway Ave and University Rd, Auckland Park, 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
The Tramp
Wela Kapela Productions present The Tramp along with showings of Vincent – His Quest to Love and Be Loved as a part of a first of its kind Double Bill over Youth Day weekend.
The production follows The Tramp as he reflects on Charlie Chaplin’s rise to fame, considering their symbiotic relationship, and the eventual betrayal of their friendship that led to Chaplin’s exile from America for communist sympathies.
The Tramp was the everyman’s champion shielding a shy, moody, scrupulous Chaplin. But with the arrival of the talking movies, the Tramp was sidelined, and Chaplin himself stepped into the limelight.
The Tramp explores the complicated bond between an artist and the character they create, blending comedy and tragedy in a heartfelt reflection on fame, identity and betrayal.
Audiences are welcome to book for one show only or enjoy the Double Bill option – whereby they book for the first show at full price, then get a 20% discount when booking for the second show.
Cost: R180pp to R220pp, book via Webtickets
When: Saturday and Sunday, 13 and 14 June 2026 | Saturday at 2pm; Sunday at 2pm (purchase a Sunday ticket for a double bill with Vincent – His Quest to Love and Be Loved)
Where: Redhill Theatre, Redhill School, 20 Summit Road, Morningside
Vincent – His Quest to Love and Be Loved
The second production to go along with The Tramp in Wela Kapela Productions’ incredible Youth Day weekend double bill is the hit pocket musical, Vincent – His Quest to Love and Be Loved.
Vincent delves deep into the enigmatic life of artist Van Gogh, exploring the complexities of his relentless pursuit of artistic fulfilment and genuine human connection.
Through reimagined renditions of popular musical theatre, pop, rock and jazz numbers, this unique multimedia musical cabaret offers a fresh perspective on Van Gogh’s unwavering desire for love and acceptance.
Audiences are welcome to book for one show only or enjoy the Double Bill option – whereby they book for the first show at full price, then get a 20% discount when booking for the second show.
Cost: R180pp to R220pp, book via Webtickets
When: Friday to Tuesday, 12 to 16 June 2026 | Friday (12 June) at 7pm. Sunday (14 June) at 6pm (purchase a Sunday ticket for a double bill with The Tramp. Tuesday (16 June) at 2pm
Where: Redhill Theatre, Redhill School, 20 Summit Road, Morningside
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
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
Rites & Rituals – Moving into Dance
Rites & Rituals is a celebration of seasoned female choreographers, Sylvia Glasser and Esther Nasser, whose work has been imprinted on generations of dancers.
Sylvia Glasser is a widely beloved choreographer, activist and educator whose works were known to combine African dance themes with modern dance styles from the West, cementing her role as one of the early pioneers the Afrofusion style of dance.
Esther Nasser is a multiple award-winning choreographer and former CEO of the Joburg Ballet whose impact on the South African dance scene cannot go unappreciated. Under her tutelage, the Joburg Ballet revived classic productions such as La Traviata – The Ballet, Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote.
The Moving into Dance Trust perform two iconic award-winning works by the choreographers: Sylvia Glasser’s “Stone Cast Ritual” and Esther Nasser’s reworked “Rite of Spring”. The programme also features another female-choreographed piece by the National School of the Arts.
Cost: R75pp to R100pp, book via Webtickets
When: Friday to Sunday, 19 to 21 June 2026 | Friday at 11am (dress rehearsal) and 7pm; Saturday at 2pm and 7pm; Sunday at 2pm
Where: The Lesedi at Joburg Theatre, 169 Loveday St, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
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 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
