The Baxter Theatre Centre will host The Forest, the Ovation Award-winning interactive dance performance for children, from 31 July to 15 August 2026. Created by Ukrainian-born, South African-based choreographer Kateryna Aloshyna, the production brings together live contemporary dance, animation, music and audience participation in a show designed for children from Grade R to Grade 5.
The Forest is inspired by Forest Song, the poetic drama by celebrated nineteenth century Ukrainian writer Lesya Ukrainka. The story moves between two worlds: the mystical realm of nature and its mythological beings, and the human world of choices, challenges and resilience. Children in the audience are free to take part in the action or to watch quietly from their seats, and no two performances are ever quite the same.
“Children are invited to actively shape the story, transforming from spectators into co-creators of the performance. The piece integrates South African Amapiano dance grooves, Ukrainian folk traditions, immersive animation, and a specially composed score blending sopilka, the Ukrainian flute, with modern beatboxing,” says Aloshyna, who is also the co-founder of the Contemporary Dance Laboratory, a non-profit arts platform based in Paarl.
At its heart, The Forest carries a simple message: when we lose our connection to nature, we lose a part of ourselves. It is a message that speaks directly to a generation growing up in a time of climate crisis, displacement and uncertainty.
The production was created in 2021 to mark the 150th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka’s birth. In 2025 it was presented at the National Arts Festival Fringe as part of ASSITEJ South Africa’s Family Fare Hub, where it received an Ovation Award for artistic excellence and impact. The cast features dancers Carren Johannisen, Abigail Johnson, Tyla Kleyn and Andre Maarman, with music by Maksym Berezhnyuk on the sopilka and beatboxer Dmytro Aleksienko, and animation by Mykyta Budantsov.
Performances run on Fridays 31 July, 7 August and 14 August at 10:30 and 14:30, Saturday 1 August at 12:00 and 14:00, Monday 10 August at 10:30, and Saturday 15 August at 10:00 and 12:00. The show runs for 45 minutes with no interval and is recommended for ages five and up. Standard tickets cost R150 per person, with a family package of four at R125 per person and group bookings of ten or more at R85 per person, available for the Friday 10:30 performances. Tickets are available at www.webtickets.co.za
Following the Cape Town season, The Forest is expected to travel to Johannesburg later this year. Dates will be announced on the production’s social media pages.