Oh what a celebration we'll have today! As Wicked prepares to mark its 10th anniversary in the West End tonight (27th September), it has been announced that the musical's UK & Ireland tour will return in 2018.
Following the conclusion of Wicked's international tour in January 2018, the UK tour will open in February 2018 at the Bristol Hippodrome with tickets on public sale from 1st February 2017. Further cities and dates are to be announced.
Already the 8th longest running show currently playing in the West End, in November Wicked will become the 18th longest running show in West End theatre history, surpassing the run of the original production of Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Wicked is one of only three Broadway transfers in West End theatre history to ever run 10 years or more (the two others being Disney’s The Lion King and the 1997 revival of Chicago).
Already seen by nearly 8 million people in London alone at the Apollo Theatre, the production has employed over 1600 people as well as multiple contractors and companies since its London premiere. It was the first show in West End history to gross over £1,000,000 in single week (week-ending Saturday 1st January 2011). The production has gone on to break this record on many subsequent occasions, most recently during week-ending Saturday 2nd January 2016.
Michael McCabe (UK Executive Producer) says: "On behalf of Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Stage Productions and all of the producers, I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to all of our casts, musicians and production staff who have worked so tirelessly, and with such diligence and dedication, in helping to achieve this incredible milestone. It continues to be an absolute privilege to work with so many exceptionally talented individuals and companies and we couldn’t be more proud of, and grateful to, every single one of you. And to our audiences, who have so passionately supported and championed Wicked over the past decade, we offer our deepest gratitude."
Wicked London currently stars Rachel Tucker (Elphaba), Suzie Mathers (Glinda), Oliver Savile (Fiyero), Anita Dobson (Madame Morrible), Mark Curry (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Idriss Kargbo (Boq), Alice Fearn (Standby Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie (Standby Glinda).
From 30th January 2017, Willemijn Verkaik will return to play Elphaba, Sue Kelvin will return to play Madame Morrible and Sarah McNicholas will join the company to play Nessarose.
Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and is based on the novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ by Gregory Maguire. It is adapted for the stage byWinnie Holzman. Musical staging is by Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by Joe Mantello.
Photo Credit: Matt Crockett
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