Hundreds of disappointed theatregoers stormed out of a Manchester performance of The Wizard of Oz, branding it an "atrocious" and "amateurish" production and demanding their money back.
Audience Outrage at 'Pantomime-Style Disaster'
The Wicked Wizard of Oz: A Cirque Spectacular show at the AO Arena on December 23 was advertised as a "brand-new, breath-taking Cirque staging" blending pantomime and circus. Instead, attendees described a chaotic and poorly executed performance that failed to meet expectations.
Michelle Radford, from Bury, told the Manchester Evening News: "I have never seen anything so bad in my life... It was an absolute shambles." She reported seeing crew members "running around like something was wrong" and criticised elements like the Wicked Witch appearing on a bike atop a golf buggy instead of flying.
Many customers argued the show was full of inappropriate jokes unsuitable for a family audience. One anonymous parent said performers made gags about penises, Donald Trump, and illegal immigration, using Indian accents, which left her children confused.
Hundreds Leave Early as Criticism Mounts
The scale of the walkout was significant. Theatre producer Tracie Ross, who left after 15 minutes, later spoke to a steward who was counting departing audience members. She claimed he said 800 people had left through one door alone.
A Facebook group named 'The Woeful Wicked Wizard of Oz - A Not-So Cirque Spectacular' has been set up, attracting hundreds of complaints from Manchester and other tour locations. Attendee Katie Sweet expressed disbelief at the production values, while Karen Harvey called it "complete falsely advertised show."
Production Company and Arena Respond
In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for The World's Biggest Productions defended the show. They highlighted that its Blackpool run in October received a "fantastic" response and that promotional material accurately featured acts from rehearsals or those performances.
The spokesperson stated: "It was never suggested this was a Cirque de Soleil production... Our show, like all pantomimes, contains some jokes in the pantomime tradition." They suggested that only a tiny fraction of their annual audience might dislike a particular joke.
A representative for the AO Arena said the venue has no control over show content and directed complaints to the production company's ticket email address.
Despite this defence, many who attended the Manchester performance are still seeking refunds, feeling profoundly let down by a show they believe massively misrepresented itself.
