Wicked returns to the West End!

THE MUSICAL PHENOMENON RETURNS

Tony & Olivier Award-winning show returns to the heart of Victoria, supporting the area’s cultural recovery

 The iconic musical – seen by over 10 million people in London alone – celebrates its 15^th anniversary in its West End home this year

 Tickets on sale at 10am on 17 May 2021

 London performances will resume on 15 September 2021 including Sunday matinees

 Groups and Travel Trade exclusively booking to 27 November 2022

 

Wicked, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, will return to London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre later this year, with performances resuming on Wednesday 15 September 2021. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Monday 17 May 2021.

General booking will open for all performances from Wednesday 15 September to Sunday 22 May 2022 with group organisers, coach operators and the travel trade additionally and exclusively able to book for performances from Tuesday 24 May to Sunday 27 November 2022.

Wicked will play Tuesday to Saturday evening performances at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday (from 27th October 2021), Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm.

All future performances will take place under Step 4 UK Government protocols (all legal limits on social contact removed). Each performance will operate in full compliance with any Government and/or industry COVID-19 safety guidelines as applicable at the time.

For more information or to make a booking, contact your preferred supplier of West End theatre tickets, UK DMC or wholesaler for more information. In addition, coach operators and group organisers can learn more at www.WickedGroups.co.uk.

Wicked will mark its 15th anniversary at the Apollo Victoria Theatre later in the year and will host a celebratory performance on Tuesday 28 September 2021.

The music and lyrics in Wicked are by the legendary composer Stephen Schwartz (whose enduringly popular musical Godspell celebrates its 50th Anniversary on 17 May 2021), with a book by Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life). It is based on Gregory Maguire’s multi-million-copy bestseller, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The American author wrote his novel whilst resident in London in 1990. Against the backdrop of the emergent Gulf War, Maguire’s story began to take shape as he examined the fundamental nature of good vs evil – exploring how the impact of politics, history and circumstance came to affect the choices – and stories – of the characters we believed we knew so well.

The first of the four novels in the ‘Wicked Years’ series (and Maguire’s first novel for adults) challenged readers to look at the beloved ‘Wizard of Oz’ tale again and consider that all may not be as it first seems. Now firmly established as a commentary on our times, a special 25th Anniversary commemorative edition was published last October in a time of pandemic and divisive politics, both in the UK and USA, with an updated Afterword from the writer.

Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West said:

“While my novel is a quarter-century old, it has proven to be able to fly the distance. Every time Elphaba’s story is read – or seen on stage – or sung – something can change within us. Since no day dawns free of heartache, a story about facing down the dragons outside and inside one’s self remains timely. The costs of courage are steep – and worth paying”.

Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Soon to celebrate its 15th Anniversary in the West End, the iconic musical has already been seen by over 10 million people in London alone and played almost 6000 performances. Winner of over 100 major international awards, including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy Award and ten theatregoer-voted WhatsOnStage Awards (including three for ‘Best West End Show’), Wicked is already the 9th longest-running West End musical of all time.

Michael McCabe, Executive Producer (UK) of Wicked said today:

“Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s wondrous musical version of Gregory Maguire’s darkly brilliant fable is an allegory for, and of, our times. After the challenging year faced by everyone in our company, we are grateful to them for their resilience and patience and delighted that we can at last get back to telling this extraordinary story again. We look forward to continuing our relationship with travel and tourism partners from all over the world and to welcoming their clients back to Oz, creating more unforgettable memories for everyone.”

The huge and enduring success of Wicked in London has seen the musical become a fundamental component in the cultural ecology of Victoria, playing a pivotal role in the health of area’s leisure and hospitality landscape. Wicked draws in audiences from across the UK (as well as internationally) and helps to ensure Victoria remains an outstanding cultural destination.

Today, news of the musical’s return is enthusiastically welcomed by the Victoria Business Improvement District (BID). Ruth Duston OBE, OC, Chief Executive of the Victoria BID said:

“This is more good news for London and signals how life is gradually returning to Victoria after many months of lockdown. By the summer, we can expect more workers to be returning to offices, and it is vital that our rich cultural, hospitality and retail offering is thriving and ready to welcome people back. Wicked is an iconic fixture in Victoria, and the reopening plans announced today will further galvanise both the economic renaissance and vibrancy of the area”.

Through its For Good charitable programme, the production’s fundraising endeavours have to date resulted in the planting over 50,000 new trees at the Woodland Trust’s Heartwood Forest, now England’s largest continuous new native forest. Long-standing collaborations with the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the National Literacy Trust are also set to continue.

The full cast will be confirmed at a later date.

Wicked has music and lyrics by multi-Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt; Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted) and is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

Wicked is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is published in the UK by Headline (the book is recommended for readers aged 16+). Wicked: The Grimmerie, a behind-the-scenes look at the musical by David Cote, is published in the UK by Hyperion.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter: @WickedUK | Facebook: /WickedUK | Instagram: @WickedUK

For more information, images, interview requests or FAM trip tickets, please contact:

John Bridge at TravelBeat
JB@TravelBeat.co.uk
or call +44(0)74944 87696

 

ABOUT WICKED

“Spectacular, colourful and wonderful” (Metro), Wicked is the perfect choice for all ages (recommended for 7+) and also provides a stunning visual and world class live musical theatre experience for international visitors.

The historic Apollo Victoria Theatre has been “a giant London landmark for nine decades” (The Daily Telegraph) and home to Wicked since its UK premiere in September 2006.

The theatre is located at the epicentre of multiple transport connections, providing unrivalled national and international links and accessibility including via London Victoria Mainline Station.

Coaches can set down and pick up directly outside the Vauxhall Bridge Road entrance/exit of the theatre. SAT NAV: SW1V 1EJ

One of the biggest and most comfortable theatres in London, all of the 2328 seats were recently refurbished and are located on two levels (Stalls and Circle).

The theatre is opposite the Victoria Palace Theatre (Hamilton) and a few minutes from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Other Palace.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to popular casual dining spots, there are over 30 restaurants and bars within a five-minute walk of the theatre. Hotels in the neighbourhood include AMBA Hotel Grosvenor, Park Plaza Victoria, St Ermin’s Hotel, St James’ Court and the Rubens at the Palace.

Located in the heart of ‘Royal’ London, the theatre is minutes from Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, the Queen’s Gallery, Westminster Cathedral, The Guards Museum, the Household Cavalry Museum, Tate Britain, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.

The theatre is also minutes from numerous meeting, conference, exhibition and event venues, including The QEII Centre and Central Hall Westminster, as well as the myriad versatile meeting and event facilities of the hotels in Victoria, Belgravia and Westminster.

 

Listings Information

Tickets on sale at 10am on Monday 17 May 2021
Performances resume Wednesday 15 September 2021 at 7.30pm
Public Booking to Sunday 22 May 2022
Groups and Travel Trade exclusively booking to Sunday 27 November 2022

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG
The theatre is one minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground Stations.

Performance Times:
Evenings Tuesday-Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees Wednesday*, Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm (*first Wednesday matinee 27 October 2021)
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including one 20-minute interval.
The schedule is subject to change.

Access performances:
• Captioned – Friday 12 November 2021 at 7:30pm
• Captioned –Saturday 19 March 2022 at 2:30pm

• Audio Described – Saturday 18 December 2021 at 2:30pm
• Audio Described – Wednesday 13 April 2022 at 7:30pm

• Sign Language Interpreted – Saturday 22 January 2022 at 2:30pm
• Sign Language Interpreted – Friday 13 May 2022 at 7:30pm

The producers cannot guarantee the appearance of any particular artist, which is always subject to illness, injury and statutory holiday entitlement.

Please note that loud noises, flashing lights, smoke effects and strobe lighting feature in the production.