Review: Wicked Witches Panto - For Adults! at Pleasance Theatre

21 Nov

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Wicked Witches at Islington’s Pleasance Theatre, written and directed by Shane ShayShay Konno, follows the infamous characters from The Wizard of Oz and Wicked in a new storyline full of silliness, queer joy, and plenty of laughs. With the final instalment of the Wicked movie musical adaptations hitting cinemas this winter, there seems no better time to celebrate these beloved and iconic characters in the magical tradition of pantomime.

Set twenty years after good conquered evil and the Wicked Witch of the West was melted, Dor (Ro Suppa) finds themself back in Oz-lington and reunited with their companions Tin (Lew Ray), Scarecrow, and Lion (both played by Nick MacDuff) for another journey down the Yellow Brick ~ Caledonian ~ Road. Upon discovering that the wicked witch Adelphaba Dazeem (Gigi Zahir) is still at large, Dor seeks help from the good witch Kelly Oz-Born (Eleanor Burke), but soon learns that all is not as it seems - and that the villain of the story might not be who they expected.

Konno’s script is jam-packed with laugh-out-loud jokes, pop-culture references, audience participation, fun musical numbers, and all the panto tropes you know and love: expect to boo, hiss, and shout “It’s behind you!” While some references may go over the heads of audience members not in the loop with TikTok trends or queer culture - this pantomime is very much holding space for those in queer media - it’s probably safe to assume that most people attending a drag Wizard of Oz-themed panto (myself included) are already the target demographic. The humour is definitely adults-only, with plenty of innuendo and swearing, though there is also a family-friendly version of the show running at the Pleasance Theatre so all ages can enjoy it.

Isabella Van Braekel’s set design, along with Van Braekel and Cieranne Kennedy-Bell’s costume design, brings a burst of colour and sparkle to the production. Kelly’s pink ruffled dress and Adelphaba’s green skin and structured black dress, make them instantly recognisable as the two witches. Another styling highlight is Dor’s Western-inspired costume, paying homage to their beloved hometown of Kansas (where they are ~ definitely ~ from, despite their British accent).

Each of the five performers brings just enough inspiration from previous depictions of their characters to make them instantly recognisable, while still putting their own fresh spin on them. They bring huge energy to the production and demonstrate excellent skills in audience engagement, encouraging participation and making us feel part of the story. Alongside the on-stage cast, there are two delightful on-screen appearances from Jeremy Corbyn MP as the Wizard of Oz-lington and Sir Ian McKellen as Toto the dog. Both appear via FaceTime-style pre-recorded segments, which works surprisingly well. McKellen’s cameo, in particular, is a comedic highlight as the star of stage and screen pokes fun at some of his most iconic screen work, including The Lord of the Rings and, of course, Cats.

Overall, Wicked Witches is a great night out at the theatre. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, and you’ll leave filled with festive joy.

Wicked Witches Panto - For Adults! runs at Pleasance Theatre until 31st December 2025.

Tickets Available Here