There are times in the theatre when you can feel an entire room surrender to delight, when a show strikes the rare balance between clever writing, full throttle performance and joyful mischief. ‘The Liar, the Bitch and the Wardrobe’ at the Union Theatre delivers exactly that kind of night. It is, without exaggeration, pure writing genius. Joshua Coley’s unapologetic and confident script spins a riotous adult panto that is as sharp as it is shameless, packed with more wit, filth and surprise than should reasonably fit into two hours. Every gag lands well, every callback builds, every twist feels fresh. It is a gleefully untamed carnival of comedy, queerness, and musical mayhem!
The premise alone sets the tone. Two hapless, fruity East London wartime young lovers, evacuated to the hilariously chaotic “Babs Douche’s Boarding School for Bad Butch Boys”, stumble into a wardrobe that takes them to a deeply unwholesome and twisted version of Narnia. From there unfolds a cavalcade of twisted characters, such as such as Mr Topless, The Hungry Beaver or The Tight Bitch who bring to life the queer fantasy tropes and brilliantly crude storytelling. The tone walks the razor’s edge between parody and camp, yet always lands just right, playful, filthy, and brilliantly theatrical. It is a world that refuses to apologise for its own absurdity, and the result is a production that rewards audiences willing to lean into the madness.
What elevates the comedy is its musical backbone. Familiar modern tunes from Gaga, Beyonce and Chapell Roan appear throughout, each reworked with cheeky, original lyrics that are at once filthy and undeniably inventive. The cast deliver these numbers with complete conviction, turning every song into a miniature comic set piece.
The cast of four, seems last a cast of hundreds, Katie Ball, Tom Duern, James Georgiou and Joe Pieri, operate as a perfectly tuned ensemble. No one outshines the others because they are all working at the same exceptional level. Their energy is relentless. Their timing is immaculate. Their commitment to the show’s unapologetically chaotic world is what makes the entire spectacle soar. Watching the four of them bounce off one another is pure pleasure.
Director Sasha Regan clearly understands the precise alchemy required to make an adult panto land with both polish and wild abandon. The staging is clever, brisk and full of invention. Richard Baker’s musical direction keeps the pace punchy, while Reuben Speed’s design and Janet Huckle’s costumes lean into the show’s anarchic spirit with style.
The staging at the Union Theatre suits this show beautifully. The intimacy of the space lends itself to the show’s core strength: audience engagement. Expect call-and-response moments, knowing winks, and a sense that the performers and the audience are in on the joke together. Rather than hide behind spectacle, the production leans into its roots as a panto, but lifts that tradition into a modern, raucous, queer-friendly celebration.
This is, without question, the best adult panto in London right now. It is outrageous, intelligent, and uproariously funny from start to finish. For anyone seeking a night of unrestrained theatrical joy, this is highly recommended.
‘The Liar, the Bitch and the Wardrobe’ runs at the Union Theatre until 4th January 2026. Tickets are available a https://uniontheatre.biz/show/the-liar-the-bitch-the-wardrobe-a-very-adult-panto
Reviewer: Alan Stuart Malin
Reviewed: 4th December 2025
North West End UK Rating: