Sir Ian McKellen to join Jeremy Corbyn as Toto in Islington panto
Photo credit: Pleasance Theatre
Just when you thought the Pleasance’s gloriously camp Christmas extravaganza Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto! couldn’t get any more magical, they clicked their ruby slippers and conjured up another showbiz legend.
With Jeremy Corbyn MP already announced as the onscreen Wizard of Oz-lington, audiences might have believed the magic had peaked. Could it get any better? Oh yes it could! Now Sir Ian McKellen is officially joining the onscreen cast as Toto, a washed-up rock star dog with more bark than bite and a back catalogue of bone-shaking ballads.
Yes, you heard that right. The man who brought Gandalf, Magneto and King Lear to life will now be channelling his inner canine crooner with a tail wag that could headline Glastonbury. Every dog has its day, darling!
Sir Ian said: “Having survived – just – my appearance in the film of CATS, I am thrilled, relieved even to now be offered the role of a dog – TOTO no less in Wicked Witches. I would be barking mad to refuse.”
Directed by the wickedly witty Shane ShayShay Konno, Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto! is a riotous mash-up of pop parody, cabaret chaos and camp as high as Dorothy’s hemlines. It’s a show with a fabulously naughty wink (although not in the family version), serving up soaring vocals, sparkly spells and more sass than you can shake a wand at.
Joining McKellen and Corbyn are drag powerhouse Gigi Zahir/Crayola The Queen as The Wicked Witch ‘Adelphaba’, Eleanor Burke/Apple Derrieres as The Good Witch ‘Kelly Oz-Born’, Ro Suppa as Dorothy (Dor), Lew Ray as Tin 2.0, and Nick MacDuff as Scarecrow and on-stage Assistant Stage Manager.
The cast of Wicked Witches will have you booing, cheering and maybe even questioning who’s really wicked after all. So, follow the Yellow Brick (Caledonian) Road this festive season for the most ‘popular’ panto in town. Because at the Pleasance, when it comes to festive fun, there’s no place like home!