A pantomime in north London is enjoying a run of sold-out shows thanks to surprise cameo appearances from Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Ian McKellen. The adult-themed production of Wicked Witches at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington features the former Labour leader as the Wizard of Oz-lington via video call, while the Olivier-winning actor appears as Toto the dog in a furry costume.
“The ad libs had us shaking behind the camera trying not to laugh,” said Ellie Simpson, the venue’s head of theatre. She said that tickets have “flown out the door” since the cameos were announced, and the theatre is now considering adding extra performances. Corbyn, who is the local MP for Islington North, recorded his role from what appears to be his allotment.
The production, a mashup of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, is the Pleasance’s first panto in 20 years. Simpson described the venture as a “huge risk” without additional funding but said the celebrities’ involvement had added “a stamp of approval”.
Pantomime is a vital revenue stream for many UK theatres, particularly regional venues. Data from 52 regional theatres shows that in 2024 nearly a third of all performances and more than a quarter of attendances and ticket revenue occurred in December. Nick Curtis, chief theatre critic at the Standard, said that “no panto, no Pinter” is a truism in regional theatre, as pantomimes bankroll the rest of the year’s programming.
Smaller theatres are increasingly using pre-recorded cameos or voiceovers to attract big names without the cost of nightly performances. This year, Stephen Fry voices the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk at Watford Palace Theatre, and Brian Cox voices the same role at Dundee Rep. Last year, Dame Judi Dench contributed a voiceover for Snow White at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds.
