Mother Goose - Duke of York's Theatre Tickets

Oh no he isn’t? Oh yes he is! Ian McKellen returns to pantomime for the first time in 17 years – alongside the hilarious John Bishop - in Mother Goose at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Mother Goose in London offers audiences the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Ian McKellen play a pantomime dame. The six-time Olivier Award-winning actor is best known for roles in King Lear, No Man’s Land, and Uncle Vanya. McKellen even toured the country in 2019, visiting 80 theatres as part of his octogenarian celebrations. Now, you can see McKellen rouge his cheeks and lips to play the title role in Mother Goose and spread joy. There’s plenty of comic relief too, thanks to comedian John Bishop as Mother Goose’s husband, Vic.

Like many beloved pantomime characters, the Mother Goose character is rooted in history. Mother Goose was popularised in a collection of Charles Perrault’s 18th century French fairytales, translated to Tales of My Mother Goose. Some even argue that Mother Goose stems from 10th century ancient legends, or even as early as the Bible.

Nowadays, most people are familiar with the early 20th-century adaptation of the Mother Goose story. In 1902, J. Hickory Wood created a pantomime for popular English music hall comedian Dan Leno. In the Victorian version, Mother Goose is tempted with a wealthy life by the devil. Elements of the 1902 pantomime remain in the Mother Goose play, but Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey now adapts Mother Goose with a 2022 twist, so expect side-splitting jokes and tap dancing animals.

What is the story of the Mother Goose pantomime?

Set in an abandoned department store, Mother Goose and her husband Vic run an animal sanctuary. They’re used to looking after stray animals, but suddenly a goose that lays golden eggs flies into their lap. What do you do with a goose that lays golden eggs? As Mother Goose and Vic enjoy a newfound life of fame and fortune, the pair must do all it takes to remain calm and collected.