This Christmas, the former Labour leader will be in the spotlight as he performs a Wizard of Oz parody in a north London theater.
Former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn is swapping the Commons for the stage this Christmas, joining the cast of a festive pantomime in his home borough of Islington.
The Independent MP for Islington North will appear in Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto, a drag-inspired Wizard of Oz parody taking place at The Pleasance Theatre near Caledonian Road. The production will run across the Christmas period as part of the venue’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
For more than 40 years, Jeremy Corbyn has been a well-known figure in the Islington North community. The already flamboyant show, which combines traditional panto humor with a colorful, cabaret-style twist, will be entertained by theater organisers who claim his appearance will add local fun.
The show incorporates drag comedy, pop parodies, and audience interaction in a take on the beloved Wicked and the classic Wizard of Oz story. The panto transports viewers to a rebranded Yellow Brick Road with soaring vocals, bold costumes, and plenty of sass.
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Jeremy’s portrayal of the fictional Emerald City and his long-standing connection to the borough will be reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz-lington. The MP claimed that he is proud to support local theater and believes pantomime is crucial to bringing people together over the holidays.
Local theater like The Pleasance (Theatre) deserves our support because it has been at the center of our community for 30 years. Jeremy remarked. In their 30th year, the Pleasance is a pleasure to bring up a little festive magic. The real magic happens in the local theater, which awakens imagination and brings some joy to life.
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He will appear alongside Ro Supp as Dorothy, affectionately known as Dor, and drag artist Gigi Zahir as the wicked witch Adelphaba, Eleanor Burke as the good witch Kelly Oz-Born, and Lew Ray as Tin 2.0.
To accommodate various audience groups, The Pleasance Theatre will present two different adaptations of the play. The first will be family-friendly and open to people of all ages, while the second will feature more adult humor and run on specific dates throughout the season.
The Pleasance London’s first major festive production in more than 20 years is the centerpiece of a larger celebration of its three decades in Islington. The presence of a prominent Islington figure in the venue highlights the close relationship between the theater and the area it serves.
Throughout his political career, Jeremy has faced heated debate and scrutiny on national stage. Although he has previously expressed his support for local arts and grassroots creative spaces, his transition to pantomime is a rare step in that direction.
Ellie Simpson, the head of theatre at Pleasance London, said: “Jeremy’s as much a part of Islington as the Yellow Brick Road is of Oz-lington. Who better to play the Wizard of Oz-lington?” His cameo raises the profile of our 30th anniversary celebrations and adds a little local sparkle to our wickedly funny festive panto, which is Pleasance’s first in over 20 years.
Performances of Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto will run at The Pleasance Theatre between 18 November and 31 December. Ticket details are available via the theatre’s website.
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Source: Mirror
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