Oh yes he is! Islington’s own Jeremy Corbyn is swapping Parliament for panto this Christmas, popping up as The Wizard of Oz-lington in the gloriously camp, all-singing, all-dancing, Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto! It won’t be the first time Corbyn has faced boos and cheers in equal measure – but this time, it’s all part of the panto fun.
In a magical on-screen cameo sure to get audiences clicking their ruby slippers, the MP for Islington North is celebrating his local community and the joy of live theatre. Come along to Pleasance this winter and you can see a politician promising magic – and, actually delivering it!
This Wicked-inspired pantomime Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto! will whisk audiences down the Yellow Brick (Caledonian) Road for a gloriously camp Christmas spectacular, packed with cabaret, pop parody and plenty of laughs for those young and old alike. Expect soaring vocals, sparkly spells, and more sass than you can shake a wand at.
Jeremy Corbyn MP, comments, The Pleasance has been at the heart of our community for 30 years, and local theatre like this deserves our support. Panto brings people together – it’s fun, inclusive and a brilliant celebration of creativity. It’s a pleasure to conjure up a little festive magic with the Pleasance in their 30th year. Local theatre is where the real wizardry happens – sparking imagination and spreading a bit of joy.
Corbyn joins an incredible cast including drag powerhouse Gigi Zahir/Crayola The Queen (Cinderella, Theatre Royal Stratford East; Frankie Goes to Bollywood, UK Tour/Southbank Centre) as The Wicked Witch ‘Adelphaba’. Eleanor Burke/Apple Derrieres (Death Drop, West End; Cinderella, Wyvern Theatre) will play The Good Witch ‘Kelly Oz-Born’, Ro Suppa (Count Dykula, Soho Theatre; Lesbian Space Crime, Soho Theatre, Sleeping Beauty, The Shipwright) will play Dorothy (Dor), alongside Lew Ray (QUEENZ, UK tour, Walk the Line, ITV; Bring it On, Urdang Academy) as Tin 2.0.
They are joined by Nick MacDuff (Beauty and the Feast, The Vaults) who will take on the role of Scarecrow and on-stage Assistant Stage Manager. The production is directed by Shane ShayShay Konno (Mulan Rouge, The Vaults; The Simple Life & Death, The Pleasance), co-founder of The Bitten Peach, the UK’s leading Pan-Asian queer artist collective who has created a company that is as diverse, glamorous and talented as the world of Oz-lington itself.
Together they’ll have you booing, cheering and maybe even questioning who’s really wicked after all.
Head of Theatre at Pleasance London, Ellie Simpson, comments, Jeremy’s as much a part of Islington as the Yellow Brick Road is of Oz – so who better to play the Wizard of Oz-lington? His cameo adds a touch of local sparkle to our wickedly funny festive panto, which marks Pleasance’s first in over twenty years and raises the curtain on our 30th anniversary celebrations
This special collaboration combines The Vaults’ reputation for anarchic, subversive pantomimes, with The Pleasance’s unique cabaret-style space and community focus. Wicked Witches is the theatre’s most ambitious Christmas offering to date, launching the build up to Pleasance London’s 30th anniversary in 2026.
Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto for Adults!
Date Friday 21st November – Wednesday 31st December (All Ages)
Tuesday 18th November – Sunday 28th December (Adults only)
Location The Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF
Box Office All Ages https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/wicked-witches-popular-panto
Price: £10 – £33
For Adults https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/wicked-witches-popular-panto-adults
Price: £10 – £35
How to Get There Nearest Stations:
Underground – Caledonian Road (Piccadilly Line)
Overground – Caledonian Road & Barnsbury
Public Transport: Bus routes 259, 17, 91, 274, 153, 393
Running Time 120 mins including interval
Guidance All Ages
This show contains loud, sudden music, bright lights, use of haze and fog, innuendo and audience participation (it’s panto after all!)
For Adults
This show contains strong language, loud, sudden music, bright lights, innuendo, use of fog and haze, threats of violence, sexually explicit content and audience participation (it’s panto after all!)
Cast
Wicked Witch Gigi Zahir/ Crayola The Queen (George Zahir Mawji-Bull) (they/them)
Good Witch Eleanor Burke/ Apple Derrieres (she/her)
Tin 2.0 Lew Ray (they/she)
Dorothy (Dor) Ro Suppa (they/them)
Scarecrow Nick Mac Duff (he/they)
Wizard of Oz-lington Jeremy Corbyn (he/him)
Creatives
Writer and Director Shane ShayShay Konno (they/them)
Dramaturg Niall Moorjani (they/them)
Set and Costume Designer Isabella Van Braeckel (she/her)
Sound Designer Rudy Percivall (he/him)
Company Stage Manager Lauren Lambert Moore (she/her)
On-stage ASM Nick MacDuff (he/they)
Creative Producer Josie Underwood (she/her)
Associate Producer Susannah Bond, The Vaults (she/her)
Executive Producer Ellie Simpson, Pleasance Theatre (she/her)
Social Media @ThePleasance
@thevaultslondon
@shayshayshow
Website https://www.pleasance.co.uk/
