Following a sold-out Cape Town season and triumphant return to the United States of America, Janni Younge Productions’ dance and puppetry spectacular, The Firebird, makes its Johannesburg debut at The Teatro, Montecasino for six shows only from 4 to 6 December 2026.
The Firebird is a fabulous fusion of complex puppetry and world-class choreography
Directed by award-winning South African puppet theatre artist Janni Younge and choreographed by acclaimed choreographer and director Jay Pather, The Firebird sets Igor Stravinsky’s electrifying score of the same name within a contemporary South African fusion of larger-than-life puppetry and powerful dance.
At its heart is the Seeker, a young woman on a quest to unleash her creative power. Drawn into a vivid and shifting world, she encounters forces that challenge her to discover her own capacity for transformation.
Towering puppet creatures, dynamic choreography and Stravinsky’s remarkable music combine in a theatrical landscape that moves between intimacy and spectacle, building towards a rousing climax as the magnificent Firebird takes flight.
Get a sneak peak of what’s in store here.
Meet the cast of The Firebird
The Firebird features a richly diverse ensemble of 15 performers, combining substantial international experience with an exciting new generation of South African artists.
Crystal Finck, who takes the central role of the Seeker, has built a wide-ranging international career across contemporary dance, musicals and film.
Elvis Sibeko, who performs the powerful role of Kashai, is the artistic director of Elvis Sibeko Studios. An accomplished choreographer, composer and director, Sibeko has worked with leading artists and has collaborated extensively with Younge, developing a distinctive fusion of dance and puppetry.
Equally skilled, the lead puppeteers bring a wealth of experience to the production. Siyamthanda Sinani, who manipulates the dragon with a 12-meter wingspan, was nominated for a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Janni Younge’s Hamlet.
Nkosinathi Mngomezulu’s international credits include Handspring Puppet Company’s Life & Times of Michael K, the War Horse puppets and Younge’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, a Handel cantata choreographed by Sibeko.
Samkelo Zihlangu is a specialist puppeteer who has worked with Handspring Puppet Company’s War Horsepuppets and performed in Younge’s Hamlet.
The cast also includes Jacqueline Manyaapelo – the Seeker from the original Firebird ensemble and one of Cape Town’s respected dance teachers and mentors – as Bird Woman, a mentor figure to Finck’s Seeker.
How to book
Early Bird Specials are available until the end of October and Family Specials are available throughout the season. For Accessible Tickets, please email [email protected].
The Firebird runs for one hour in duration and is recommended for children six and older.
Cost: From R150pp to R580pp, book via Webtickets
When: Friday, 4 December 2026 at 7.30pm | Saturday, 5 December 2026 at 11am, 3pm and 7.30pm | Sunday, 6 December 2026 at 11am and 3pm
Where: The Teatro at Montecasino, Teatro Road, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg
Website: janniyounge.com
Instagram: @janniyounge_productions
Facebook: Janni Younge Productions
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