Renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen is trading in his iconic role in Middle-earth for a dazzling appearance on the holiday stage, joining forces with Jeremy Corbyn in a vibrant, drag-infused Christmas pantomime.
Famed for his portrayal of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings series, McKellen is set to play Toto, a character humorously described as a “washed-up rock star dog,” in the upcoming production of Wicked Witches.
Jeremy Corbyn, whom McKellen has long admired, will step into the spotlight as the Wizard of Oz-lington, a clever homage to his ties to north London.
This whimsical show will take place at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington from November 18 to December 31, featuring a dynamic ensemble that includes prominent non-binary drag performers.
The pantomime offers a variety of performances, ranging from family-friendly matinees to late-night shows for adults only, which promise “strong language” and “sexual references.”
Reflecting on his new role, the 86-year-old McKellen quipped, “Having narrowly survived my role in the film Cats, I’m thrilled, perhaps even relieved, to now embrace the part of a dog—Toto, no less, in Wicked Witches. It would be barking mad to turn it down.”
The pantomime is billed as a comic mash-up of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, written by ShayShay, a non-binary dramatist known for creating a queer-themed ‘semi-immersive sequel’ to both musicals.
Sir Ian, who lives in Limehouse, east London, has previously spoken warmly about Corbyn.
The actor – adored worldwide for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films – will take on the role of Toto, described as a ‘washed up rock star dog’, in a show titled Wicked Witches
Corbyn, long admired by Sir Ian, will appear as the Wizard of Oz-lington, a playful nod to his north London roots
In an interview in 2017, he said: ‘Well, if I were a politician I would like to be just like Corbyn.
‘I would like to say it how it is, and that ‘I don’t know how to do this but I would like the world to be a better place’ – rather than be someone who talks about the economy. Because, frankly, nobody understands the economy.’
That same year he also encouraged voters to support Wes Streeting, calling him ‘one of the great young politicians, everything before him but with his principles firmly in place’.
Corbyn, 76, has made previous ventures into the arts, including founding the Peace and Justice Project in 2020, which runs a creative initiative called Music for the Many.
Speaking about joining the pantomime cast, he said: ‘Local theatre is where the real wizardry happens, sparking imagination and spreading a bit of joy.’
But the festive cheer comes at a turbulent political moment for him.
His new political organisation, Your Party, co-launched with Zarah Sultana, has been rocked by bitter internal rows from the outset.
Adnan Hussain quit the group, criticising what he called a ‘toxic’ culture. His exit came after a public confrontation with Sultana over his gender-critical views.
Sultana has also publicly challenged Iqbal Mohamed over social-media posts on transgender issues, after he wrote that women’s rights must not be ‘taken away’. She insisted the party remained staunchly pro-trans.
The infighting follows a long-simmering feud between Corbyn and Sultana, 32, who accused him of presiding over a ‘sexist boys’ club’.
