Wicked Wizard of Oz in Sussex: Show producer says 'disappointed' audience members will be contacted after a performance fraught with issues
The producer of a show in Sussex which saw many audience members walk out has said they will contact disappointed audience members.
Wicked Wizard of Oz: A Cirque Spectacular took place at the Brighton Centre last night (Tuesday, December 16), but it suffered problems from the start.
Many people walked out throughout the first half, and audience members on social media have been saying they will be asking for refunds.
In a statement released this afternoon, show producer Jon Conway said: “Wicked Wizard Of Oz Cirque opened its tour three weeks ago to critical acclaim and fantastic audience reviews at the Winter Gardens Blackpool.
"Due to unforeseen technical issues on the first performance in Brighton last night a number of items had to be cut for safety reasons and the show had to start 25 minutes late.
"We acknowledge that some audience members were disappointed and will be contacting them. However, more than two thousand people gave the show a rapturous reception at the finale and all issues have been resolved for tonight's sell out performance.”
We were there, and we reviewed the show this morning. To read the full piece, click here.
When we posted our review on Facebook, a few readers who had been in the audience were critical.
Fran Dingwall said: “Yes we went to see this last night. Sadly the review is all true. Made me laugh as it was so farcical. Most bizarre were the bald men with big bushy beards on stilts wearing a multicoloured tutu!
"Later on in the second half these two returned on stilts again but dressed as skeletons - quite scary. Felt like being in a bad dream. In fact stilted is quite accurate - there was no flow or choreography and the scenery and props were just as amateurish.”
While JR Claire said: “It was awful. We left before interval. Hoping to try and calm money back or at least some of it.”
The show was due to be performed again tonight.