“A new generation of young South African performers brings a century of beloved Disney songs to life in an uplifting celebration of dreams, creativity and possibility”
The magic of Disney is set to take centre stage in Johannesburg as the National Children’s Theatre (NCT) presents the South African premiere of Disney’s Dare to Dream JR., a vibrant musical revue celebrating 100 years of unforgettable Disney music, storytelling and imagination.
Running from 30 September to 11 October 2026 at the National Children’s Theatre in Parktown, Johannesburg, the production brings together a talented ensemble of young performers aged approximately 13 to 18 for a theatrical experience designed to entertain audiences of all ages while encouraging children and young people to believe in the power of their dreams.
Directed by acclaimed theatre director Ivor Jones, Disney’s Dare to Dream JR. is a 60-minute production featuring more than 20 songs from across Disney’s extraordinary musical legacy. Audiences can expect a mixture of timeless classics and contemporary favourites from films including The Lion King, Frozen, Moana, Encanto, Coco, Toy Story, The Princess and the Frog and more.
A CENTURY OF DISNEY SONGS ON ONE STAGE
For generations, Disney songs have become part of the soundtrack of childhood. From Hakuna Matata and Be Our Guest to Let It Go, You’ve Got a Friend in Me, How Far I’ll Go and Surface Pressure, the production brings together songs that have travelled across generations.
Other numbers featured in the revue include When You Wish Upon a Star, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, The Bare Necessities, Friend Like Me, Remember Me, Go the Distance and I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.
Rather than telling one traditional Disney fairytale, Dare to Dream JR. takes audiences on a journey with a group of young trainees arriving for their first day at a fictional Walt Disney Imagineering Studio.
As they work together, the young characters explore what it means to dream, discover their individual strengths and support one another. The production places collaboration, imagination and self-belief at the heart of its story.
MORE THAN JUST A MUSICAL
While the familiar songs are undoubtedly one of the show’s biggest attractions, Dare to Dream JR. is also built around a message that is particularly relevant to young people navigating an ever-changing world.
The production explores the importance of dreaming big, believing in yourself, working with others and persevering even when achieving a dream takes time.
It also recognises that dreams can change.
For young people, discovering what they want to become is not always a straight path. The show’s message allows room for those dreams to evolve as young people grow, learn and discover more about themselves.
The result is a production that combines entertainment with themes of confidence, creativity, teamwork and personal discovery.
YOUNG TALENT TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT
At the heart of the production is its young South African cast.
The performers have been spending weeks preparing for the show, balancing rehearsals with their school commitments while learning vocals, choreography, harmonies, staging and performance cues.
For these young artists, the production represents more than an opportunity to sing some of Disney’s biggest songs. It provides a professional theatrical environment in which they can develop discipline, confidence, teamwork and stagecraft.
Recent coverage of the production highlighted how the young performers have been juggling their rehearsals with schoolwork, with the demanding preparation giving them valuable lessons in time management and discipline.
It is this combination of professional theatre and youth development that sits at the heart of the National Children’s Theatre’s work.
NCT’S COMMITMENT TO YOUTH THEATRE
The National Children’s Theatre has established itself as an important platform for children’s and youth theatre in Johannesburg, combining live performance with education, workshops and programmes designed to encourage creativity and self-expression.
Based in Parktown, NCT presents theatre throughout the year and has developed programmes aimed at using the performing arts as a tool for learning and personal development.
Disney’s Dare to Dream JR. therefore fits naturally into the theatre’s broader mission of giving young people the opportunity to experience the performing arts while seeing young performers like themselves take centre stage.
NCT COO Belinda Germeshuizen has described the production as closely aligned with the organisation’s purpose, highlighting the impact that seeing young performers on a professional stage can have on children in the audience.
A SHOW FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
One of the production’s biggest strengths is its broad appeal.
Parents who grew up with classic Disney films will recognise songs from earlier generations, while younger audiences will connect with contemporary favourites from films such as Frozen, Encanto, Moana and Coco.
That makes the production an opportunity for different generations to share a theatrical experience together.
For some children, it may be their first opportunity to hear these songs performed live. For parents, it offers the chance to revisit familiar music through the energy and perspective of a new generation of performers.
The production is suitable for all ages and runs for approximately 60 minutes without an interval, making it accessible for younger theatre-goers as well.
FROM DISNEY CLASSICS TO MODERN ANTHEMS
The carefully selected soundtrack gives Dare to Dream JR. a distinctly cross-generational appeal.
Audiences can move from the nostalgia of When You Wish Upon a Star and A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes to the infectious energy of Hakuna Matata and I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, before stepping into the modern Disney era with songs such as Let It Go, How Far I’ll Go, Remember Me and Surface Pressure.
Rather than simply presenting a collection of songs, the revue uses them to explore the emotions associated with dreaming and growing up — uncertainty, excitement, friendship, courage and the belief that possibilities can be bigger than what we initially imagine.
WHY THIS PRODUCTION MATTERS
At a time when children and young people are increasingly surrounded by digital entertainment, live theatre offers something fundamentally different: the opportunity to sit in a room with other people and experience a story unfolding in real time.
For the young performers of Dare to Dream JR., the experience also provides an opportunity to understand the commitment required to create a professional production.
Every harmony, dance sequence and musical number represents hours of preparation.
And that is perhaps where the show’s title becomes most meaningful.
To dare to dream is not simply to imagine a future. It is to take the first step towards it.
For the young performers on NCT’s stage, that journey is already underway.
JOHANNESBURG’S NEXT GENERATION OF DREAMERS
With its combination of Disney nostalgia, contemporary musical favourites, young South African talent and an uplifting message, Disney’s Dare to Dream JR. promises to bring a fresh energy to Johannesburg’s theatre scene this spring.
More importantly, it places young people at the centre of the story — both on stage and in the audience.
Whether audiences arrive for Let It Go, Hakuna Matata, You’ve Got a Friend in Me, How Far I’ll Go or simply to experience the excitement of live theatre, the production offers a reminder that dreams are not reserved for fairytale characters.
Sometimes, they begin with a young person stepping onto a stage.
And sometimes, all it takes is one song to remind someone that they can dare to dream.
SHOW DETAILS
Production: Disney’s Dare to Dream JR.
Presented by: National Children’s Theatre
Director: Ivor Jones
Dates: 30 September – 11 October 2026
Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg
Duration: 60 minutes, no interval
Suitable for: All ages
School bookings: Nthabiseng Mmethi – 011 484 1584 / nthabiseng@NCTheatreSA.org.za
With only a limited number of performances scheduled, families and schools are encouraged to secure their seats early. Current event listings place ticket prices from approximately R120, with pricing varying according to the booking category.
Disney’s Dare to Dream JR. is ultimately a celebration of music, imagination and the limitless possibilities that open up when young people are given the opportunity to dream — and the stage on which to make those dreams visible.follow more on@sabuzzmedia and @NCT