A recent pantomime performance, known as the “Willy Wonka Experience 2.0,” faced criticism as families left midway through the show. The production, titled ‘The Wicked Wizard of Oz: Cirque Spectacular,’ received complaints from attendees at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, with some audience members demanding refunds and expressing disappointment, comparing it unfavorably to school productions.
Many disgruntled spectators have joined a Facebook group called ‘The Woeful Wicked Wizard of Oz – A Not-So Cirque Spectacular,’ amassing over 1,500 members. The production company, World’s Biggest Productions, had promoted the show as a fusion of pantomime and Cirque du Soleil, based on the iconic story by Frank L. Baum. However, parents who watched the performances over the weekend criticized it as inappropriate, overpriced, and misleading.
One parent, who spent £297 for a family ticket, remarked that the show fell short of expectations, particularly when compared to the Willy Wonka Experience. Attendees described the production as lacking coherence, subpar sound quality, and criticized the unconventional props and staging choices, such as a witch on a bike attached to a golf cart and munchkins on stilts.
The dissatisfaction with the show has spread beyond Glasgow, with negative reviews flooding the Facebook page created by an attendee from a Brighton Centre show. Comments from disappointed viewers across the UK voiced their discontent with the performance, with some leaving midway through the show due to their disappointment.
In response to the criticisms, a spokesperson for The World’s Biggest Productions defended the show, highlighting its circus elements and the use of humor typical in pantomimes. They emphasized that the show was not intended to replicate the production values of Cirque du Soleil and drew attention to the positive reception in Blackpool.
The Mirror has reached out to World’s Biggest Productions for further comments.