jeremy corbyn to appear in adults-only pantomime ‘bursting with festive filth’

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is briefly stepping away from the jeers,melodrama and over-the-top theatrics of Westminster for the very different world of pantomime.

The 76-year-old,now pushing forward with his new left-wing Your Party movement,will star as the Wizard of Oz-lington in a local Wicked-inspired production this winter.

And there’s another twist – two different versions of the show will be available,one for kids and a ‘sexually explicit’ one that’s only for adults.

Wicked Witches will feature top drag performers delivering ‘soaring vocals,sparkly spells,and more sass than you can shake a wand at’,according to a press release.

The over-18s version,meanwhile,is described as a ‘wickedly naughty night out’ which is ‘bursting’ with ‘festive filth’.

Corbyn,who is pre-recording his appearance,said: ‘Panto brings people together – it’s fun,inclusive and a brilliant celebration of creativity. It’s a pleasure to conjure up a little festive magic with the Pleasance in their 30th year.

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Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight,walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here.‘Local theatre is where the real wizardry happens – sparking imagination and spreading a bit of joy.’The Pleasance Theatre near Caledonian Road,where the show will be staged from November 18 to December 31,is not actually in Corbyn’s constituency.In fact,it falls inside the boundary of his parliamentary neighbour Dame Emily Thornberry.Corbyn in his Emerald City gear for the Islington panto (Picture: Pleasance London)The other stars of Wicked Witches at the Pleasance Theatre (Picture: David Monteith-Hodge)Ellie Simpson,head of theatre at Pleasance London,said: ‘Jeremy’s as much a part of Islington as the Yellow Brick Road is of Oz – so who better to play the Wizard of Oz-lington?‘His cameo adds a touch of local sparkle to our wickedly funny festive panto,which marks Pleasance’s first in over twenty years and raises the curtain on our 30th anniversary celebrations.’Wicked Witches will not be Corbyn’s first foray into the world of acting.He made a cameo appearance in the 2023 comedy Sumotherhood,where he tries to calm a bank robber with the memorable line: ‘Allow it,wasteman.’