The Wizard Wae The Big Bawz: 5 Facts to Know

The Wizard Wae The Big Bawz is the panto Scotland didn’t ask for but absolutely deserves — the kind of January madness that cuts through the post-festive slump. It’s loud, bold, X-rated, and utterly shameless. If you’re needing a night out that reminds you why you still bother leaving the house in winter, this is it.

1. It’s panto… but absolutely no’ for the weans.
Cheeky jokes, bold characters and big Scottish humour. If you’re easily offended, this probably isn’t the one for you.

2. A very loose (and we mean very loose) spin on Oz.
You’ll recognise the story… then very quickly realise it’s gone completely off the rails in the best way possible.

3. A cast packed with familiar faces.
From TV legends to comedy favourites, this year’s line-up is the strongest and daftest we’ve had yet.

4. Hitting Greenock, Dumbarton and Glasgow in January 2026.
Three cracking venues, all ready for a bit of post-Christmas chaos.

5. Expect pure carnage.
Drag, live singing, big laughs, audience sass, and moments that definitely shouldn’t be repeated in polite company.

The show crashes into Greenock, Dumbarton and Glasgow with the subtlety of a flying house. Instead of polite family fun, you get a tornado of nonsense, glitter, and jokes your granny should never hear. This isn’t Kansas, it’s Scotland — so Dorothy’s ruby slippers come with blisters, the yellow brick road is covered in spilled pints, and the only thing clicking is everyone’s jaw at the one-liners.

The cast list is wild in the best way. Sanjeev Kohli turns up as the Wizard, bringing the calm swagger of a man who’s got nothing to prove and everything to say. Gayle Telfer Stevens takes on the Wicked Bitch with the kind of energy that suggests therapy might have been cheaper. Cherry West glides in as Glinda, serving drag excellence with a wand that’s probably not safety-checked. Molly Quinn gives Dorothy a modern edge. Craig McDougall, Andrew Grayson, and Megan McGuire turn the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Wummin into a trio you’d happily follow into a storm, but maybe not into a pub fight.

The whole thing is written and produced by Gayle Telfer Stevens and Reece Donnelly, who clearly decided traditional panto boundaries were optional. They’ve launched Patter Productions, a new company promising bold theatre with no filter. Gayle says they wanted to give audiences something joyful to land in once January hits. She’s right — nothing resets the mood like ruby slipper sparkle mixed with jokes spicy enough to make the Wicked Witch blush. The towns and the city on the tour know Gayle well, and she’s determined to bring them something loud, funny and gleefully wicked.

Reece calls the show “X-rated panto with more twists than a twister,” which feels accurate. He also points out Sanjeev’s confidence as the Wizard, claiming he’s got “the big bawz” — which, given the title, feels like the job description. Reece also bigs up Gayle’s chaos-powered performance and Cherry West’s drag magic, which sits somewhere between elegance, shade and potential health-and-safety concern.

So yes, The Wizard Wae The Big Bawz is brash, rude and absolutely daft — but that’s the point. It’s January. We’re all skint, tired, and emotionally allergic to salad. A filthy panto with big laughs is practically medicinal.

Tickets on sale now via venue websites.