‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road this April with family favourite The Wizard of Oz’
Liverpool audiences are being promised lots of wizard fun at the Epstein Theatre this Easter.
Regal Entertainments Ltd returns after a smash-hit Christmas panto season to present the much-loved classic tale The Wizard of Oz from Friday 3 to Thursday 9 April.
Tickets are on sale now priced from £20.
Join Dorothy and her dog Toto on their epic adventure to the Emerald City and be with them as they meet a cast of incredible characters including Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion along the way.
Will the Wicked Witch manage to stop the friends from reaching their destination? Or will the good witch Glinda help the friends in their mission to meet the wonderful Wizard himself?
The unmissable show boasts dazzling costumes, amazing sets, a toe-tapping soundtrack and excitement for Liverpool munchkins and their families.
Mia Molloy appears as Dorothy, and the cast also includes David Heath as the Scarecrow, Shea Ferron as the Tin Man, Hannah Riley as the Lion, Hayley Russell as Glinda, Katy McKenna as the Wicked Witch and Warren Donnelly as the Wizard.
The panto is directed by Chantelle Joseph, with choreography from Nazene Langfield and music supervision by Callum Clarke.
Mia Molloy is Dorothy. Mia is a Liverpool-based actor, singer and dancer who trained at Liverpool Theatre School.
Her panto roles for Regal Entertainments include Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, all at St Helens Theatre Royal. She has also appeared as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Floral Pavilion, Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Epstein Theatre and Cinderella at The Atkinson in Southport.
Mia’s other stage credits include Liver Birdsong at the Epstein Theatre, and Disco Diva in Mam! I’m ‘Ere! at Liverpool’s Royal Court. As a child actress, she appeared in two productions of Willy Russell’s Our Day Out at the Royal Court.
David Heath plays the Scarecrow. X Factor and Eton Road star David returns to Oz after previously playing the Scarecrow at both St Helens Theatre Royal and the Epstein Theatre. His other work for Regal Entertainments includes Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin.
Before shooting to fame on X Factor, David trained in musical theatre at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre and has also been a finalist twice on Sky’s Got to Dance with the group Dance Dynamix. His other panto credits include Aladdin at St Helens Theatre Royal, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Bolton Albert Halls, Jack and the Beanstalk at The Brindley in Runcorn and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre and the Stockport Plaza.
Shea Ferron is the Tin Man. Musical theatre singer Shea studied performing arts at the Institute of Contemporary Theatre in Manchester. As a leading member of the acclaimed Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, he helped the Welsh singing group to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023. The Chorus also previously won the Choir of the World title at the 2019 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. In 2024 Shea himself took the Voice of Musical Theatre accolade at the prestigious music festival, and in 2023 he performed Bring Him Home alongside Alfie Boe on the Llangollen stage.
Shea has previously appeared as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz at St Helens Theatre Royal.
Hannah Riley is the Lion. Hannah previously appeared at the Epstein Theatre playing Mummy Bear in Goldilocks and the Three Bears in 2022, reprising her role from a previous production for Regal Entertainments at St Helens Theatre Royal. Her other panto appearances include Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Further theatre credits include Hocus Pocus, Jurassic Earth, Hamlet, Macbeth, Santa Claus Shoes, The Jungle Book and The Boyfriend.
Hayley Russell appears as Glinda. Hayley previously played Glinda in Regal Entertainments’ production of The Wizard of Oz at the Epstein Theatre in 2022 and again at St Helens in 2024 and 2025. She has also appeared in Regal Entertainments’ Easter panto Peter Pan at St Helens. Originally from Greater Manchester, Hayley has spent 20 years working as a professional production vocalist, band singer and dancer, supporting artists including Billy Ocean and Gareth Gates. Stage credits include Vampires Rock, Vampires Rock Ghost Train, Iconic, The Meat Loaf Story, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
Katy McKenna is the Wicked Witch. Katy is a real favourite with Merseyside audiences, and her credits include The Greatest Show, Stomping Steiners, a UK tour of The Snow Queen, The Salon – the Sequel! at St Helens Theatre Royal and The Scouse Cinderella at Liverpool’s Royal Court. She is also an experienced panto performer whose previous roles include Goldilocks in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Fairy Sparkle in Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk, Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, Dorothy and the Wicked Witch in productions of The Wizard of Oz and Belle in a national tour of Beauty and the Beast.
And Warren Donnelly plays the Wizard. Warren is well-known to TV viewers as Stan in five series of Shameless and for his roles in hit shows like Tin Star, Moving On, Cold Feet, Life on Mars, and Roscoe in Coronation Street. Stage credits include Slappers and Slapheads at Liverpool’s Royal Court, God’s Official at West Yorkshire Playhouse/Liverpool Everyman, and he is appearing at the Epstein Theatre this spring in Bouncers.
He played Dad in Regal Entertainments’ recent national tour of Rita, Sue and Bob Too and has appeared in several pantos for the company including Cinderella, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz.
Panto director Chantelle Joseph says: “We’re off to the Epstein Theatre this Easter in the company of Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and the amazing characters they meet on their adventure along the Yellow Brick Road, and we can’t wait.
“Cinderella was a huge hit with Liverpool audiences when we staged it at the theatre last Christmas, and I know The Wizard of Oz is going to be just as much fun. It’s a tale which has enchanted many theatregoers over the years and it’s always fantastic to see different generations all enjoying the show together
“We’ve assembled a fabulously talented cast, and the production will feature all those elements panto fans have come to expect including dazzling costumes and sets, great choreography and a soundtrack of great songs performed live.”
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SHOW LISTING
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Date: Friday 3 – Thursday 9 April 2026
Time: Various times
Tickets: Adults £29/Concessions £28/Children £26
*All tickets are subject to a booking fee
EPSTEIN THEATRE BOOKING DETAILS
85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ
Book online at www.epsteintheatre.com
Book in person at the box office on the ground floor daily from noon-6pm
Box office also opens one hour before a performance
Group bookings (10+) and access line on 0151 312 8735 daily from noon-3pm
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