[Watch] ‘Wizard of Oz’ Show Turns Chaotic: Audience Throws Trash and Food at Actors Over “Atrocious” Performance

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Many people who saw the recent Wizard of Oz show at Manchester’s AO Arena were unhappy with the performance, describing it as unprofessional and requesting their money back.

Despite being advertised as a spectacular and innovative circus-style reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, called Wicked Wizard of Oz: A Cirque Spectacular, many audience members were disappointed with the performance. The show didn’t live up to expectations of a unique blend of traditional pantomime and circus arts.

Michelle Radford of Bury shared her experience with the Manchester Evening News, saying the show was “terrible.” She explained she’d expected something similar to Cirque du Soleil, as it had been advertised as a spectacular event, but it was far from it. She was completely shocked by how bad it was.

She thought the show felt unpolished and disorganized, especially with how the performers managed the props. It didn’t seem very professional, and she noted that many people left before intermission.

Radford wasn’t impressed with the show, pointing out several issues. She mentioned a lion costumed as a tiger performing a simple tightrope walk, a Tin Man dressed like a Transformer, and a sheepdog playing the part of Toto. She felt it was far from the ‘spectacular’ event that was promised and considered it misleading, so she asked for her money back.

During a performance of ‘Wizard of Oz’ at the AO Arena in Manchester, actors were pelted with trash and food thrown by audience members. One witness described the scene as “the worst I’ve ever seen.” Hundreds of attendees were reportedly affected.

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) December 26, 2025

Many other people at the event expressed similar concerns. One parent, who wished to remain unnamed, explained that her children couldn’t fully enjoy the show due to jokes that were unsuitable for their age, including mentions of Donald Trump and sexually suggestive material.

Liam Hopkins, who attended the show, felt the marketing materials had created the impression of a Cirque du Soleil-like performance, but what he saw was quite different. He explained that some parts felt more suited for an adult holiday show than a family pantomime. While the performers were clearly enthusiastic and worked hard, he thought the overall presentation, choreography, and speed of the show didn’t have the grand scale and professional finish you’d expect from a cirque performance.

Tracie Ross, a theatre producer from Bolton, walked out of the show after only 15 minutes, along with her daughter. She explained that performers dressed as a tornado entered the audience and sprayed them with water guns, but the effect fell flat. She also felt the dancers’ costumes looked low-quality. Ross said many other people left during the performance and expressed her frustration that the arena hadn’t checked the quality of the production before allowing it to take place.

People have been voicing their disappointment with the show online, particularly on a Facebook group called “The Woeful Wicked Wizard of Oz – A Not-So Cirque Spectacular.” The group has collected hundreds of complaints from attendees of the Manchester show and others, with many criticizing the weak stunts, sound issues, confusing plot, and inappropriate content.

The World’s Biggest Productions, the company behind the show, responded to criticism by pointing to its previous success in Blackpool. A representative explained that the show was never presented as a Cirque du Soleil production and highlighted the talent of their performers, six of whom won silver medals at European circus festivals this year. They also noted that, like traditional pantomimes, the show includes intentionally silly humor.

The AO Arena explained that they don’t oversee the content of performances and suggested contacting the show’s producers for more information.

This production of The Wizard of Oz didn’t quite hit the mark with audiences, and many left feeling disappointed instead of enjoying a fun, holiday outing. It makes you wonder if the advertising overstated what the show would actually be like, and whether families were given a misleading impression.

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2025-12-26 12:15