By Grace Hatchell- Postie Extraordinaire
Pop the kettle on, loves, because I’ve just had the sparkliest bit of post drop into my satchel — and it’s got witches, snowstorms, and a Yellow Brick Road detour through Caledonian Road!
This Christmas, Pleasance London is teaming up with those mischief-makers at The Vaults to bring us Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto! Think Wicked meets The Wizard of Oz, but with drag queens, queer cabaret, and enough glitter to clog the Hoover. And the best bit? They’re giving us two shows for the price of one idea: a daytime, all-ages spectacular for families (and nans who love a singalong), and a gloriously naughty after-dark version for the grown-ups who like their panto with a wink and a cocktail.
In the family show, poor old Dor (that’s Dorothy to her friends) gets swept back to the Borough of Oz-lington twenty years after her first rainbow tumble. Turns out the Good Witch and Wicked Witch are still at it like neighbours arguing over a wheelie bin. So, Dor teams up with Scarecrow, Lion, and the shiny new Tin 2.0 to save Christmas itself — with plenty of big songs, panto silliness, and a message about community and acceptance that’s warmer than your nan’s mince pies.
Then once the little ones are tucked up in bed, the Pleasance throws off the tinsel and goes full sequins. The after-hours edition is raunchier, campier, and drenched in queer nightlife sparkle — panto traditions served with a sassy wink. Expect drag royalty, pop parodies, and audience giggles galore.
The line-up is enough to make even Glinda’s bubble burst: drag powerhouse Gigi Zahir/Crayola the Queen flings on the green as Adelphaba, while Eleanor Burke/Apple Derrieres sparkles as Good Witch Kelly Oz-Born. Rosanna Suppa takes on Dor, with Lew Ray as Tin 2.0 and Nick MacDuff as Scarecrow (and even ASM-ing live on stage!). At the helm is director Shane ShayShay Konno, co-founder of The Bitten Peach and a legend in the Pan-Asian queer performance scene, making sure the world of Oz-lington looks as dazzling and diverse as it deserves.
ShayShay puts it beautifully: at a time when trans stories are under fire, this panto proudly champions trans heroes and shows children the joy of celebrating differences. And honestly? The kids always get it faster than the adults.
With The Vaults’ knack for cheeky subversion and Pleasance’s flair for cabaret sparkle, this is their biggest festive offering yet — and the start of their 30th anniversary countdown.
So polish your ruby slippers, darlings. This winter, Grace is off down the Yellow Brick (Caledonian) Road — and I reckon you’ll want to skip along too.
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/wicked-witches-popular-panto
About the Author
