This winter, audiences are invited somewhere over the rainbow withWicked Witches-A Popular Panto!,where they can enjoy aWickedandThe Wizard of Ozinspired pantomime atLondon’s Pleasance Theatre. In a unique collaboration with The Vaults, The Pleasance will present two different versions of the show, with an all-ages performance for the family, and a separate, outrageous after dark adults-only show. Both versions promise a festive walk 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.

The all-ages show blends the fun of drag with the magic of Christmas to present a tale of inclusivity and acceptance. Twenty years after Dorothy (Dor) first tumbled over the rainbow, a surprise snowstorm whisks them back to the Borough of Oz-lington, where they discover theGood Witch and the Wicked Witch are still feuding. Audiences will see Dor join forces withScarecrow, Lion, and the shiny new Tin 2.0, as they set out on an epic quest to stop the storm, defeat the witch, and save Christmas. Designed to bridge generations, the show is intended as a celebration of identity and community, offering all the beloved tropes of classic panto, including big musical numbers and audience participation–with a story that has real heart.

Pleasance’s adults-only version of the show will have the same sentiment with a twist; a campier and naughtier adaptation providing a fabulous queer cabaret take on the classic panto tradition. Both magical versions star an incredible cast, uniting stalwarts of the queer nightlife, drag and panto scenes. The shows are rooted in the desire to create a fun, safe space for all ages and to champion queer voices and present a panto for today and the future.

The Wicked Witch ‘Adelphaba’ will be played by drag powerhouse Gigi Zahir / Crayola TheQueen (Cinderella,Theatre Royal Stratford East;Frankie Goes to Bollywood, UK Tour/SouthbankCentre). Eleanor Burke / Apple Derrieres (Death Drop,West End;Cinderella,Wyvern Theatre) is to play The Good Witch ‘Kelly Oz-Born’, Rosanna Suppa (Count Dykula, Soho Theatre;LesbianSpace 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 Tin2.0.

They are joined by Nick MacDuff (Beauty and the Feast,The Vaults) who will take on the role ofScarecrow and on-stage Assistant Stage Manager. The production is directed by Shane ShayShayKonno (Mulan Rouge,The Vaults;The Simple Life & Death,The Pleasance), co-founder of TheBitten Peach, the UK’s leading Pan-Asian queer artist collective, creating a company that is as diverse, glamorous and talented as the world of Oz-lington itself.

Writer and Director Shane ShayShay Konno comments. At a time of increasing legislation against trans people, I believe it’s of the utmost importance to champion positive trans stories and heroic trans characters. I’ve created a lot of performance work for children and have always found them to be the most accepting and enthusiastic audiences. Wicked Witches sends a message of celebrating our differences & accepting others to audiences of all ages.

We met Eleanor Burke, who plays Kelly the Good Witch and this is everything you need to know.

Kelly the Good Witch — love the name already. What makes this “good witch” good… and how much mischief is hiding under that halo?

Kelly is all about #goodvibesonly but she very much lives in her own bubble. She’s the girl in the bubble, after all! She is determined to make everything around her bubbly and beautiful but in her pursuit for perfection she can get a bit lost in her own pink haze! 

You’re taking on one of the most iconic archetypes in fairy-tale history. How did you make Kelly your own — and how “good” does she stay once the glitter starts flying?

There have been so many iconic portrayals of the good witch, I remember seeing Billie Burke in the Wizard of Oz as a kid, also amazing that she’s also a Burke! Love that! My portrayal is a homage to her and to Ariana (of course) but mostly it’s letting my actual Drag Queen alter ego, Apple Derrieres, do her take. She’s incredibly silly so what could possibly go wrong?…. 

Drag, panto, queer chaos — it’s all baked into this show. How does Kelly hold her own in such a fabulously unhinged universe?

Panto is always chaos, I adore panto for this reason, and then on top of that glorious energy we have drag and a super queer cast so it’s all going viral! Our rehearsals have been a fever dream. Kelly loves that energy and in her mind she’s the Queen of everything so nothing phases her. She’s the perky panache, the cherry on the top! 

The show’s billed as “strictly for adults.” What’s the naughtiest or cheekiest line you’ve had to deliver, and how did you keep a straight face?

There is a version for all and a version for adults. But really, all pantos have naughtiness that flies over the little ones heads and makes the adults giggle anyway. Some of the dames I’ve worked with over the years have been outrageous – David Ashley and Malcolm Lord, oh my! But with the adult version we can dig deeper into the nuance and double entendre and use references that adults will get. And we can swear, hallelujah, because this is always such a challenge when you’re breaking the fourth wall and youre a drag artist for a living! I have so many funny lines, Shay Shay is so so clever. I particularly enjoy innocently insulting people, I love that juxta position. 

Panto is all about audience interaction. How are you finding the crowd energy — especially when it’s a room full of tipsy queer witches shouting back at you?

I love audience interaction and I love improv, when you’re in character you just fly. It’s fun, it’s energy. And you’re miced, they’re not! Also, I host karaoke twice a week, DRAGAOKE at The Phoenix Arts Club and Lesbian Karaoke at SHE Soho so I’m used to the tipsy queer witches! It takes one to know one… Haha! 

You’re part of a production that’s dripping in camp and queer joy. What does that mean to you personally as a performer in today’s London theatre scene?

It’s actually magical and so important to see ourselves and be seen. And to make queerness accessible to queer families and young people too. We need to celebrate ourselves but also normalize ourselves too. I’m also always particularly keen to represent lesbians in a positive way and to kick back at misogynistic jokes, tropes and language as drag and Panto sometimes can make slurs that are derogatory to lesbians, women and afab people. It’s not a good look. And it doesn’t make us feel good. Leave our bits alone! Panto has always been queer though – the dames, the principal boy etc – and it’s amazing that our cast are all superqueeros and utterly brilliant to boot. I hope to see more queerness in shows, it was amazing to see ‘Why Am I So Single’ on the West End, for example, an exquisite example of queer joy and brilliance. And when you think of section 24 and the threat to trans people, in particular now, it’s actually a great antithesis. Joy, love, magic and hope. Panto vs bigotry, glitter vs hate. 

Kelly sounds like she’s part Glinda, part girl-boss, part drag diva. Who were your biggest inspirations for her vibe?

Yes! Have you been in the room? I’m forever inspired by brilliant women – Alison Steadman is my hero. I’m very much starting with Apple and branching out with nods to other good witches. I personally think Ariana is utterly phenomenal and so so funny in Wicked, she blew my mind. I think there are references to her, for sure, but this is very much it’s own monster. She’s the boss Queen Diva girl in the bubble! 

Every panto has that one scene where everything goes gloriously off-script. Any favourite moments of on-stage chaos so far?

Yes! We’re all mischievous monsters so when the shows up, I’m prepped for mayhem! But in rehearsals we’re all making sure the show is tight… so we can play! And we’re all so silly. We also all really get on and find each other hilarious so that makes matters worse… We’ve had rehearsals where Gigi has been literally hanging from the ceiling, we’re in constant hysteria to be honest, it’s all chaos but controlled chaos. 

A little bird told us there’s even a Jeremy Corbyn gag hidden in the mix. Without spoiling it, how does politics sneak its way into a show this fabulously filthy — and what do you think Corbyn would make of it?

JC! Our wizard! What a good sport. We don’t really delve into politics too much but there is if course the odd nod to current affairs, you’ll have to come to the show! I’ll ask him! 

If Kelly could give one piece of “good witch” advice to the queer community this holiday season, what would her spellbinding words be?

Treat people with kindness, if you don’t like someone, get to know them better. Discrimination is born from ignorance. We’re all good, all wicked, all different. Lesbians are cool. Pink is for all. And sequins can cut a bitch. 

If you could cast one magical spell over the audience at the end of the night, what would you want them to leave feeling — enchanted, empowered, or just deliciously filthy?

Panto is all about the magic so I hope the show casts it’s magic and people leave feeling enchanted and empowered, whether they washed or not is a they problem. 

https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/wicked-witches-popular-panto-adults