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Johnny Ward returns to the stage at the Ambassador Theatre to play the Big Bad Wolf in Rob Murphy’s Halloween pantomime Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf. The limited run brings together former Fair City colleagues and aims to offer a family-friendly spook with a theatrical twist.
A personal full‑circle for Ward
For Ward the engagement carries a hint of nostalgia. He recalled to EVOKE that he once used a fake ID to get into the venue, including to see a Green Day concert when he was 16.
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Now he returns not as an audience member but as one of the leads, stepping into a role that contrasts sharply with that teenage memory.
What the show offers
The story follows Little Red on her journey through an enchanted forest to visit her glamorous D’Granny. Along the way she meets a cast of colourful characters and, in this production, a very surprising Big Bad Wolf played by Ward.
Producers describe the Halloween panto as suitable for families. It mixes lively children’s entertainment with a few cheeky innuendos aimed at adults, delivered within a brisk, hour‑long format that omits the usual interval.
Cast, creative team and context
Rob Murphy wrote the production. George McMahon, another Fair City alumnus, returns as Billy Silly after appearing in last year’s Halloween panto. McMahon told EVOKE he had been unsure whether audiences would take to a Halloween-themed show, but was encouraged to see smiles from the opening performance last season.
Alongside Ward and McMahon, the cast includes Laura Kelly as Glammy D Granny, Robert Downes as Dame Bridie and Hazel Park as Little Red. Ward noted that his working relationship with McMahon spans more than 25 years.
Dates and availability
The Halloween run at the Ambassador Theatre is strictly limited, from Saturday, October 24 to Friday, October 30. Tickets are being offered for performances across that week only.
