GALLUS IN WEEGIELAND
Tron Theatre
★★★★★
“the slickest and most joyful offering to the Scottish Christmas landscape this year”
Not for a long time have I left a theatre in higher spirits than after seeing Gallus in Weegieland – Tron Theatre’s annual winter pantomime. Written by Johnny McKnight and directed by Sally Reid, this show is a masterpiece of comedy, character and cultural references that will leave your head spinning in the best possible way.
The show is a comically Glaswegian twist on the Alice in Wonderland story. We meet Alice, an aspiring dancer with a big heart and very little talent, who is on a metaphorical journey to find herself and along the way hopefully her love, imagination and bravery. She asserts her bravery early on by following a half-boy-half-rabbit, Knavey, underground into the magical Weegieland. Here she is treated to a chorus of Glaswegian characters, decked out in fake designer and framed by a collage of high street shop names and pigeons. We follow Alice’s journey as she meets Hatter (not mad, just eccentric), the wannabe psychic Honey the Caterpillar and, eventually, the terrifying Queenie of Hearts. Alice must find her imagination and decide if love is really worth staying in Weegieland forever.
From start to finish, the cast of this production excel. Jessica Donnelly and Aidan MacColl as ensemble offer delightful characterisation throughout, elevating any scene they are in. Marc Mackinnon is sublime as the diva Honey, continually enrapturing the audience with their killer vocals and dry delivery. Star Penders perfectly encapsulates the mummy’s boy persona of Knavey, and one can’t help but be pulled in by Catriona Faint’s charming Hatter. Indeed, Faint’s banter with the audience is a real highlight of the show and their quick fire jokes so expertly delivered like ace after ace at a grand slam tennis match. Jorgey Scott-Learmonth offers a truly endearing Alice which skillfully never tips into the annoying – we are rooting for her throughout. The absolute scene stealer for this show, however, is Louise McCarthy as Queenie of Hearts. We come to learn very early that when McCarthy is onstage, all eyes are on her. She delivers the role with such unhinged movements and expressions that the audience is in stitches for two hours straight.
One of the most joyous elements of this show was its music, an original score composed by Ross Brown. The songs employed clever lyrics, catchy tunes and they were, as Queenie of Hearts would say, absolute bangers. Having original songs throughout elevated the show above the panto norm and, combined with the frequent interactions with the live pianist, reminded us that music is just as integral a part of panto rep as anything else. Add on top of that Eva Forrester’s vibrant choreography and the show becomes a wonderland of musical theatre.
The show offers the epitome of a pantomime aesthetic, with design by Kenny Miller, and dazzles from start to finish in outlandish patterns and colours and lights. The stage is relatively small, but it manages to feel huge and the energy and atmosphere extends into the whole room.
The audience were a little shy at points, and a couple of jokes flew past our heads, but with a little more bedding in this show could well be the slickest and most joyful offering to the Scottish Christmas landscape this year. This is the perfect show for locals and visitors alike to escape and be dazzled by a truly unapologetically Glaswegian pantomime.
GALLUS IN WEEGIELAND
Tron Theatre
Reviewed on 21st November 2025
by Kathryn McQueen
Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic
Previously reviewed at this venue:
ARLINGTON | ★★★ | October 2025
BLACK HOLE SIGN | ★★★★ | September 2025
