Families attending the weekend performance of Wicked Wizard of Oz: Cirque Spectacular at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro were left deeply frustrated, with many walking out mid-show and demanding refunds. Marketed by The World’s Biggest Productions as a “brand-new, breath-taking, Cirque staging” blending panto and cirque elements, the reality fell far short of expectations.
Parents and audience members labeled the production “inappropriate, overpriced, and falsely advertised,” drawing unfavorable comparisons to the infamous “Willy Wonka Experience 2.0.” One mother of two, Carol-Ann Henderson, called it a “complete shambles” and claimed she had seen better school productions. A father who paid nearly £300 for his family’s tickets described the show as “an embarrassing performance from a high-profile production company.”
Complaints extended to poor sound quality, lackluster props, and a disjointed storyline featuring unconventional elements such as a witch riding a golf cart and munchkins on stilts. Audience dissatisfaction prompted the creation of a Facebook page titled ‘The Woeful Wicked Wizard of Oz - A Not-So Cirque Spectacular,’ which has quickly gathered over 1,200 members sharing similar frustrations.
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Despite the backlash, The World’s Biggest Productions defended the show, emphasizing the show’s more affordable ticket prices compared to top-tier productions like Cirque du Soleil, and highlighted their cast’s award-winning talent. They also stressed that the production embraced pantomime humor, which might not appeal to everyone.
With the production still running for a second showing at the venue, the controversy around Wicked Wizard of Oz underscores the risks of high audience expectations clashing with the reality of a theatrical experience.