Wizard of Oz show in Brighton: angry people demand refunds

Wicked Wizard of Oz: A Cirque Spectacular opened at the Brighton Centre last night, with another performance scheduled for this evening.

The show was not well received by many, with hundreds of people leaving during the interval.

You can read our review of the show here: The Brighton Centre’s Christmas show was so bad I left at the interval

The Argus has been contacted by readers today expressing their disappointment with the performance, and demanding their money back.

Many others have posted similar comments on The Argus’ website and Facebook page.

The Strawman character’s trousers kept falling down (Image: World’s Biggest Productions)

Complaints focused on the poor standard of performance, the lack of ‘cirque’ elements, bad sound quality, and general lack of organisation.

Prices for the event ranged from £30 to £75. The show was put on by World’s Biggest Productions.

Deborah Collins commented: “My husband and I left at the interval. I have never left a show early, it was that bad.

“It was an amateur production, completely mis-advertised. We thought we were sneaking out until we got to the foyer and saw hundreds had also decided to leave.”

Niki Musto said: “It’s the most awful production we’ve ever had the displeasure to endure. We had to queue to leave at the interval, and would have left much sooner if we could have got out of our seats.

“So unprofessional, inappropriate and downright appalling. I will be seeking a refund.”

Hove resident Rob attended with his wife and two grandsons, aged five and eight. He paid £152 for the four of them to attend, but said the whole evening was “poor”.

“I’ve seen better school productions”, said Rob, who estimated that about 25 per cent of people didn’t return after the interval.

Many felt the show was light on ‘cirque’ elements (Image: World’s Biggest Productions)

Rob saw a woman complaining to venue staff at the interval. He says the staff gave the woman a complaints email address, which she then went around sharing with other disgruntled attendees.

John Taylor said: “It looked like it was produced and directed by eight-year-olds!”

Lyn Nesbitt-Smith wrote: “We too found this show to be totally appalling. We were promised a cirque spectacular and what we got was something out of an amateur dramatics production.

“There was so much wrong with it. The end couldn’t come early enough and thankfully no encore was given. We too will be claiming our money back.”

Rob’s grandsons were let down by the ‘lion’ character (Image: World’s Biggest Productions)

James Macmillan commented: “This really was the worse theatrical experience of my life. My nine-year-old granddaughter asked if the cast had practiced!

“There was an embarrassing delay, and staff could be heard shouting at each other backstage! The sound was appalling; the dancing was awful. I have seen better at a holiday hotel in Turkey!

“I have never seen so many people walk out of a theatre. This whole experience cost me £300 and two very fed-up grandchildren, who kept waiting ‘for something to happen’! How do we get our money back?”

Natasha Mahoney wrote: “We also left at the interval. A truly awful experience.”

S Costello said: “Truly awful. Appalling from start to interval, when we also queued to leave! Complete garbage and false advertising – we will be demanding a refund.”

Keely Beecroft added: “I paid £100 for two tickets – daylight robbery! I have never ever asked for money back on a theatre production. They just can’t get away with it.”

Chris Bradshaw commented: “Truly dreadful. They shouldn’t get away with promising so much and then delivering such utter dross.

“I felt sorry for the families who paid so much money. Worst show I have ever seen.”

Many complaints mentioned a scene in which a cucumber was placed provocatively through a sheet at groin height by the Scarecrow, who then waggled it around in the manner of a penis.

Georgina Alexandra referred to it as the “cucumber gloryhole skit”, which she said was “the final straw”.

“They were handing out complaint email addresses on paper at the door… says it all really!” she added.

Katie Elizabeth said she had to “cover her daughter’s head” during the cucumber scene.

The witch rode a bike rather than a broomstick (Image: World’s Biggest Productions)

Lyn Nesbitt-Smith called the cucumber routine “totally out of order and unnecessary”, while S Costello said that the scene “finished most of those around me, who grabbed their coats and kids and left after 40 minutes”.

Mike Naunton added: “Absolutely diabolical. I would guess half the audience left during or before the interval.

“It was like they were making it up as they went along, having never rehearsed. The show that was advertised bore no resemblance to what we saw.

“Charging over £50 for that was criminal, I’ve seen better primary school nativity plays.”

Emma Wright called it an “absolute joke of a show”.

The show’s producers have now responded.

You can read their response here: Producer of show that left people ‘queuing to leave’ speaks out