Creative Team

Director: Janni Younge
Choreographer: Jay Pather
Dramaturgy: Janni Younge and Jay Pather
Puppet Design: Janni Younge with Jonah Delange and Andy Jones
Sound and Additional Music Design: Daniel Eppel of Eppelsauce
Lighting Design: Kieran McGregor
2026 Costumes: Mariska Meyer with influence from Birrie le Roux
Rehearsal Master: Sifiso Kweyama
Animation: Michael Clark of Maan Creative and Janni Younge

Performers

Crystal Finck – The Seeker
Elvis Sibeko – Kashai
Jacqueline Manyaapelo – Bird-Woman
Nqubeko “Cue” Ngema – Bird-Man
Samkelo Zihlangu – Head Puppeteer, Snake and Snake-Dog
Nkosinathi Mngomezulu – Head Puppeteer, Beast and Boy
Siyamthanda Sinani – Head Puppeteer, Dragon and Girl-Child
Meritxell Cilliers – Head Puppeteer, Bird and Ballet Girl
Oleksii Ishchenko
Tanzley Jooste
Sisipho Mponzo
Mbulelo Mzazi
Lubabalo Pupu
Chesney Stanfield

Production Team

Technical Production Manager: Pieter-Jan Kapp of PJK Project Management
Stage Manager: Mariska Meyer
Production Assistant: Khalil Rossouw
Puppet and Stage Technicians: Jaco Conradie
Puppet Construction: Janni Younge, Jonah Delange, Andy Jones, Peter Collard, Kyle Daniels, Phyllis Midlane, Sean MacPherson, Sivuyile Gaji
Technical Consultants: Gravitron Special Effects (Fire)

Acknowledgements

The 2026 Firebird revival is made possible thanks to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and its original commissioning partners: The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Ravinia Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

View the digital program page for Janni Younge Productions' Firebird.