2025 was a year of filming for Ian McKellen, according to what he himself says in one of his latest posts on Instagram (where he has 2.5 million followers). At 86, the British actor doesn’t stop working. “For starters, Steven Soderbergh’s latest film, The Christopherspremiered successfully at the Toronto Film Festival. I later reprized the role of Magneto in Avengers: Judgment Dayreuniting with Sir Patrick (actor Patrick Stewart) and Robert Downey Jr. after many years. I’m currently filming Frank and Percywith Martin Sherman’s brilliant and hilarious screenplay. We’ll talk about all this later, since the first thing that will be released will be An arkwhich can be seen for the first time at The Shed in New York in January”, lists the tireless performer. As if that wasn’t enough, he was also encouraged to take part in a Christmas pantomime full of drag queen. “Sir Ian McKellen joined the cast as Toto the dog, a declining rock star with more bark than bite and a catalog of shocking ballads,” London theater The Pleasance, which produces the show, announced on Monday 17 November Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto! along with The Vault.
Taking advantage of the imminent fever for the premiere of the second part of Evilwhich will be released in theaters on November 21, the director and artist whine Shane ShayShay Konno wrote a “quirky mix of cabaret whine From Evil AND The Wizard of Oz“, as announced on the theater’s website. There are two versions of the show, one suitable for all audiences – on stage from November 21 to December 28 – and another exclusively for adults – from November 18 to December 22. “20 years after her fateful journey over the rainbow, Dorothy is swept into the Ozlington district by an unexpected snowstorm, where she reunites with her original team to try to save Christmas. They’re the classic characters you know and love, reunited for a new holiday mission!
McKellen, a two-time Oscar nominee, for his role as James Whale in Gods and monsters (1998) and for his legendary Gandalf in the lord of the rings (2001)—, will have the honor of bringing it to life TotoDorothy’s faithful pet, only in this new version of the story the dog’s personality is that of a decadent rocker. “After barely surviving my appearance in the film cats (the 2019 film that had a terrible reception from audiences and critics), I am happy, even relieved, that they are now offering me the role of a dog,” the actor said after learning about his appearance in the show.
The first promotional images of McKellen in the role of Toto shows the actor who played Richard III posing in a cheeky attitude, with his dog ears pierced by a penetratinga spiked collar and a fur coat, while sticking out his tongue or making the horns gesture. “Why, why have a Toto normal when you can have a national treasure with a leather necklace? Just when you thought our Christmas pantomime couldn’t get any more magical, we conjured up another unexpected legend that no one expected,” The Pleasance underlined on its Instagram profile. “Um… EPIC!” one user commented as soon as the post was uploaded. “Who’s a good little dog?” joked Shane ShayShay Konno, who in addition to writing it also directs the show.
Another of the surprises of show is that it will feature a star appearance by former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, who will play the “Wizard of Oz-lington”, a reference to his north London constituency. “The MP for Islington swaps Parliament for a pantomime and joins us to celebrate 30 years of theater in the local community. So come to Pleasance this Christmas and you’ll see a politician who promises magic, and actually delivers!”, warns the London theater in another of its publications, in which Corbyn is seen dressed for his role.
The rest of the cast is completed by “prominent artists whine non-binary” which, running for an hour and 40 minutes – the adults-only version runs 10 minutes longer – promises “energy, pop song parodies and bawdy Christmas humour”. Tickets are now on sale from £10 – €11.35 – on the theatre’s website. “Follow the yellow brick road for a naughty and cheeky night!”, encourages The Pleasance.
McKellen describes himself as an activist for LGTBIQ+ rights. In fact, on his personal website he has a section dedicated to this work. “I have sometimes been harshly criticized for expressing my opinions by the very journalists who asked me for them!” he complains in this section. “Since I came out in 1988, I have been asked, almost expected, to speak and write about gay issues. And I have been very happy to do so. I have been reluctant to press on other issues that I care deeply about: nuclear weapons (against), religion (against atheists), the death penalty (against), AIDS (fundraising), because I don’t want to talk all the time, diluting the impact of my most pressing concern: legal and social equality for gay people in circulation. the world”, he explains.
