A show full of laughter and silliness that hugs the queer child inside every one of us.
I may be a child no more, yet this might be the most gender-affirming show this year for the queer, non-binary child within me.
Wicked Witch (written and directed by Shane Shayshay Konno) is performing at the Pleasance Theatre from the 21st of November to the 28th of December. Wonderfully mashing up Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, the story follows Dor, played by Ro Suppa, who finds themselves dragged back to the Borough of Oz-lington by a snowstorm. They then reunite with their old companions. Featuring a nonbinary Dor, a Tin Woman (played by Lew Rau), a drag Good Witch (Eleanor Burke), a drag Wicked Witch (Gigi Zahir), and a queer Scarecrow (Nick McDuff), the show is wonderfully queer—a celebration of different identities told through a story of togetherness, community, and mutual understanding and support. The show touches on the difficulties faced by those from racial and gender minorities growing up, yet it does so with a light-hearted tone. Jokes and reflections on these heavy issues are woven seamlessly into the overall narrative, making Dor’s journey with friends a wonderful exploration of finding and embracing each others’ true self—a journey that involves topics of race and gender, just like the real world.
This show is a love letter to all the queer children who have become or are becoming themselves, the queer adults struggling to find joy within their inner child, and indeed to all people who aim to see and embrace others on our own routes of “becoming.”
The all-ages version, which I attended, was set up amazingly for both kids and adults to enjoy. Outside the theatre, activities like face glittering were offered before the children entered the magical Wicked world. Inside, the stalls were adapted into a cabaret-style seating area with bubble guns prepared on the tables—a device that not only entertains but also later becomes part of a collective set-making moment during the show! Rainbow candies were shared with grown-ups and children, and different kinds of beverages were prepared for everyone to enjoy. Just like the theme of the show, the curation of the experience for both adults and children was wonderfully inclusive, considerate, and full of care.
In terms of the story and the jokes, it feels like that this “all-ages inclusive” version was adapted from the adult-only one—many jokes might only resonate with adults, and the sharpness of the writing felt a bit muted due to the all-ages consideration. However, the story and the weight it carries for today’s society still speak with poignancy (with delight!) to all audiences. For people who seek a place to simply relax, have fun, be silly, and feel at home, this show is the one.