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Leave all your preconceptions about pantomime at the door, as Glasgow’s Tron Theatre turns the pantosphere on its head once again, in another delightfully subversive take on the festive genre.
A bit like the almost titular Alice (Jorgey Scott-Learmonth) struggling to find her gallus, a long-winded setup means it takes a while for this production to find its feet.
But when we finally take the jump into Weegieland, Johnny McKnight’s script explodes in a laugh-a-second force of chaos that will sure to fill you with festive fuzz of a bottle of wine from those monks.
Firmly footed in Scotland’s biggest city, the Tron doesn’t occupy the biggest stage or have anywhere near the most seats – but packs a punch well above its weight.
It’s a Glasgow panto for the people of Glasgow. It pokes fun of the folk it serves and unreservedly punches up with a library of McKnight’s masterfully observed cultural references, delivered at a rate that would be hard to compete against.
If Disney adaptations of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland conjure boak-inducing sickly-sweet doe eyed female principals, the Tron’s production disnae.
These principals have grit – Alice and Neve (Star Penders) are fierce, independent minds. Catriona Faint’s Hatty is a delightfully eccentric guide through the weird and wonderful Weegieland. Aidan MacColl and Jessica Donnelly man the two person ensemble with hilarious quips.
The seven-strong cast buck the male-heavy traditional pantomime line-up. It’s a forward-thinking, empowered cast who don’t miss a beat between each other.
Notorious scene-stealer Marc Mackinnon is promoted this year to occupy even more of our attention as the sassiest fairy… well, caterpillar… in the pantosphere. Channeling his inner Norma Desmond, this larval luvvie delivers sass in spades, with one look.
Leading a Johnny McKnight panto is not for the faint hearted, but Louise McCarthy doesn’t flinch. Once we work out whether we can boo this baddie, she’s a disgracefully wicked Queen who is funny to her fingertips and we can’t help but love.
This madcap adventure continues the Tron tradition of making pantomime its own. It’s modern, it’s adventurous and it is funny. What’s not to love?
Gallus in Weegieland at Tron Theatre, Glasgow until Sunday 4th January 2026
Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic
