Review: Emma Hatton, Savannah Stevenson & Oliver Savile star in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

Wicked
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 22nd October 2015
★★★★★

As the West End production of Wicked enters its tenth year at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, several new cast members have joined Emma Hatton and Savannah Stevenson who lead the cast as Elphaba and Glinda. Set in the mystical world of Oz, Wicked continues to cast audiences under its spell. 

Wicked announces new West End cast!

Wicked has announced its new West End cast. The show's current stars Emma Hatton and Savannah Stevenson have both extended their contacts and will continue playing Elphaba and Glinda into 2016.

Joining them from Monday 21st September 2015 will be: West End Frame Understudy of the Year nominee Oliver Savile (current understudy Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera) as Fiyero and Sean Kearns (The Commitments/The 39 Steps) as Doctor Dillamond.

Current ensemble member Daniel Hope is taking over as Boq full-time whilst Carina Gillespie, who plays Nessarose and understudies Glinda in Wicked's UK tour, is joining the London cast as Standby Glinda.

Winners announced for Wicked Young Writers' Award

The 2015 Wicked Young Writers’ Award today announced its winners during a ceremony involving 120 shortlisted finalists at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, home of Wicked.

Now in its 5th year, the Award, encourages young people aged 5-25 years old to use writing as a means of expressing themselves, celebrating the production’s themes and values of looking at life in a different way.

Each year, thousands of entries are received across five age categories, with the addition in 2015 of the Sugarscape Fan Fiction Award, a brand new category created by the entertainment website to celebrate the growing genre of fan fiction amongst young people.

Wicked extends West End booking to April 2016

The West End production of Wicked has announced the opening of its 19th new booking period.

From Monday 2nd February 2015 at 10am, 500,000 new tickets will be going on sale for performances until Saturday 30th April 2016.

Wicked is now the 10th longest-running show in the West End, has been seen by more than 6 million people in London alone and recently played its landmark 3,500th performance.

Around the world, Wicked has been seen by 45 million people in 13 countries and won 100 international awards.

While continuing its open-ended West End run, the show's UK & Ireland Tour has already sold over 1 million tickets since its premiere in Manchester in September 2013. The tour will conclude in July 2015, with a return to the Greater Manchester area (to The Lowry in Salford), following engagements in Plymouth (where it is currently playing), Bristol, Sunderland and Aberdeen. 

Big Interview: Willemijn Verkaik - "I couldn’t be happier!"

Willemijn Verkaik is currently starring as Paulina in the West End premiere of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane's musical opens at the Playhouse Theatre on Monday 12th January 2015 (previews from 17th December 2014) for a 20 week limited run. Willemijn is working alongside a stellar cast including Tamsin Greig, Haydn Gwynne, Jérôme Pradon, Anna Skellern, Ricardo Afonso, Haydn Oakley and Seline Hizli. Bartlett Sher directs.

Earlier this year, Willemijn won West End Frame’s West End Debut Award for her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria). The Dutch star first played the role in Germany in 2007. She then starred as Elphaba in Holland before joining the Broadway company, making her the only actress to have played the iconic character in three different languages. Following a successful stint in New York, Willemijn joined the London production to tremendous acclaim. 

Willemijn is the voice of Elsa in the German and Dutch language versions of Disney's Frozen which is the highest grossing animated movie of all time. Her theatre credits also include: Donna in Mamma Mia (Stuttgart, Germany), Songs For A New World (Stuttgart, Germany), Amneris in Aida (Tecklenburg, Germany) and Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Cologne, Germany).

During a break from rehearsals, I recently spoke to Willemijn about her return to the London stage, why Women on the Verge is a new challenge and what the rest of the cast are like to work with. We also discussed her emotional departure from Wicked, why winning West End Frame’s Best West End Debut Award meant so much to her plus much, much more…

Women on the Verge has been completely re-workshopped since its Broadway run and is almost like a totally new show. At what point did you come on board?

I didn’t do any of the workshops so for me this is really fresh. I first heard of the show when I was auditioning and I started to do my research.

What were your first impressions? The music is so refreshing!

I thought the music was amazing! David Yazbek is a genius – the songs that he’s written for Pepa (Tamsin Greig) and Lucia (Haydn Gwynne) and for everyone are just so thrilling and special. All those Spanish influences are very refreshing. I just love the way he brings a song into a scene and gets that Spanish feeling. He captures the feel of the scene and the show… I am a fan [laughs]!

Photo Feature: New images of Jennifer DiNoia in Wicked

Producers of Wicked have officially released stunning new pictures of international Wicked star Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba alongside Savannah Stevenson as Glinda in the London production. Check out the pics below (click image to enlarge).

Jennifer DiNoia has enjoyed a remarkable eight year association with Wicked in North America and internationally and has now made her West End debut as Elphaba. She has joined the West End production for a strictly limited engagement until Saturday 31st January 2015 at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

X Factor finalists attend West End performance of Wicked!

Last night (30th October) X Factor finalists Lauren Platt and Lola Saunders attended the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre to celebrate Halloween!

The girls (who are the last standing two in Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's category) met leading ladies Jennifer DiNoia (Elphaba) and Savannah Stevenson (Glinda) after the show. Lauren apparently revealed that she would one day love to play the role of Elphaba. 

Wicked is now in its 9th year at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, making it the 10th longest-running show in the West End. 

Around the world, Wicked has already been seen by over 42 million people in 13 countries and won 100 international awards. While continuing its open-ended London run, a spectacular UK touring production is also now playing until July 2015.

As well as DiNoia and Stevenson, the West End cast of Wicked currently includes: Jeremy Taylor (Fiyero), Liza Sadovy (Madame Morrible), Martyn Ellis (The Wizard), Philip Childs (Doctor Dillamond), Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Emma Hatton (Standby Elphaba) and Sophie Linder-Lee (Standby Glinda). Hatton takes over as Elphaba next February. 

Wicked extends booking period to November 2015

The West End production of Wicked has extended its booking period at the Apollo Victoria Theatre to Saturday 7th November 2015.

This new booking period will take the musical into its ninth year in London. 500,000 new tickets for the booking period will be released on Monday (8th September). Wicked has now been seen by 42 million people worldwide in 13 different countries.

Review: Kerry Ellis returns to Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

Wicked

Apollo Victoria Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 4th August 2014

★★★★★

Kerry Ellis as Elphaba

Running on to a never ending round of applause, those who innocently bought a ticket to a random Monday evening performance of Wicked must have wondered what all the fuss was about when Kerry Ellis made her first entrance during last night's performance.

Of course many were there, clapping as fast and screaming as loud as humanly possibly, to see Kerry Ellis - who was the first British actress to star as Elphaba in the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked - reprise her celebrated performance for the first time in five years ahead of a limited twelve week run.

Despite Ellis being something of a Wicked legend, this was my first time seeing her as Elphaba (aka the Wicked Witch of the West), the most sought after female role in musical theatre.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, Wicked tells the cleverly put together untold story of the witches of Oz. We first meet Elphaba and Glinda (the Good) as students; during act one we learn about their pasts before discovering what really happened whilst Dorothy was following the yellow brick road during act two.

Nikki Davis-Jones takes over as Elphaba in Wicked London; new West End cast announced

It has been announced that Nikki Davis-Jones (pictured below) will take over as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked from  Monday 27th October 2014.

Davis-Jones recently created the role of Elphaba in Wicked's first UK Tour. She was previously Standby Elphaba in the West End production for nearly three years. The actress will play her final performance in the Wicked UK Tour on Saturday 6th September 2014 at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Liza Sadovy (Madame Morrible) and Philip Childs (Doctor Dillamond) are also joining the production.

Photo Feature: Scott Alan plays four shows at the Hippodrome

Last week composer Scott Alan played four sold out shows at the Hippodrome. 

Stars of the West End, including Nathan Amzi, Jodie Jacobs, Danielle Hope, Luke Bayer, Katie Paine, Cynthia Erivo, Oliver Tompsett, Savannah Stevenson, Ian Stroughair, Dan Buckley, John Owen-Jones, David Ribi, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Stewart Clarke and Lucie Jones, took to the stage to perform Alan's incredible music.

Tam Mutu wins Best Performance of a Song Award!

Tam Mutu

Following an exciting seventeen day voting period, we are thrilled to announce that Tam Mutu has won the 2014 West End Frame Award for Best Performance of a Song in a Musical.

The performer picks up the prize for his rendition of 'Stars' in the West End production of Les Miserables.

Speaking to West End Frame, Tam said: "Wow! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much to everyone who voted. It is a huge honour to get to sing a song that has been performed by so many great artists over the years. To be given this award is very humbling. I am truly overwhelmed. Thank you!"

Tam, who stars as Javert in the West End's longest running musical, wins with 34% of the final vote. We received over 14,500 votes making Best Performance of a Song 2014 the biggest West End Frame Award to date.

Tam's co-star Carrie Hope Fletcher (‘On My Own’) comes second, marking the first time performers from the same show have dominated the two top spots in a West End Frame Award. This is also the first time Les Mis has won a WEF Award. The Phantom of the Opera's Gerónimo Rauch (‘The Music of the Night’) comes third, Wicked's Savannah Stevenson ('Popular') comes fourth and Once's Arthur Darvill (‘Say It To Me Now’) comes fifth. Click here for the full result.

Editor's Blog: A West End Theatre Holiday (Part 2)

Click here to read Part 1 of this piece.

On Thursday afternoon I arrived at the Harold Pinter Theatre to see my first play of the year, Jez Butterworth’s Mojo starring Brendan Coyle, Rupert Grint, Tom Rhys Harries, Daniel Mays, Colin Morgan and Ben Whishaw. The reviews and word of mouth have built up the production to be absolutely mind blowingly brilliant, but personally I do not think it is. Mojo is incredibly interesting but takes too long to become gritty and gripping. 

The second act of Mojo is considerably stronger than the first and Ben Whishaw gives the most insanely exceptional performance. This was my first time seeing Ben perform live and you can't help but be drawn to him each time he steps on stage, regardless of what else is going on. Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, who is making his West End debut, gives a good performance. I could easily spot the Harry Potter fans, especially during the bows - I have never heard such a roar in a theatre after an afternoon performance, especially after such a heavy play! It is, of course, fantastic that the talented cast are attracting different audiences to the West End (most of whom had seen the production four or five times already).

Review: Willemijn Verkaik & Savannah Stevenson join Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

Wicked

Apollo Victoria Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 19th December 2013

Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, Wicked tells the cleverly put together, untold story of the witches of Oz. Despite being set in a different world, the secret to the show’s success is that it reaches out and touches so many people in so many different ways. At the core of the musical is a story of friendship, something so simple yet something we rarely see.

Wicked to celebrate 3,000th performance and becomes the 15th longest-running West End musical of all time

Wicked will play its landmark 3000th performance at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre tomorrow (16th November 2013) at 2.30pm. Now in its 8th year, Wicked surpassed the run of the original production of Evita on Wednesday 22nd August 2013 to become the 15th longest-running West End musical of the all time. 

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical, directed by Harold Prince, closed at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1986 having played 2900 performances. (Information verified by the Society of London Theatre.)

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “This is a fantastic milestone for the London production of Wicked. We are incredibly grateful to all those who have supported and championed the show since 2006 and thank everyone at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for all their exceptional work and dedication in delivering 3000 absolutely superb performances”

Willemijn Verkaik, Savannah Stevenson and the new West End cast of Wicked discuss the musical's sucess

The producers of Wicked have a released a video featuring the new West End cast discussing the musical's huge success. The video was filmed during the new cast's photo shoot. Watch the video below and click here to meet the new cast.

The video features Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba), Savannah Stevenson (Glinda), Jeremy Taylor (Fiyero), Sam Kelly (The Wizard), Sue Kelvin (Madame Morrible) and Olivier award-winning actor Paul Clarkson (Doctor Dillamond) who all join Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on Monday 18th November 2013.

Sneak peek at... Willemijn Verkaik, Savannah Stevenson & Jeremy Taylor as Elphaba, Glinda & Fiyero in Wicked

As part of yesterday's Wicked Day celebrations, a short video has been released featuring the new West End cast of Wicked in their dazzling new costumes. Watch the video below and click here to meet the new cast.

On Monday 18th November 2013 Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba),  Savannah Stevenson (Glinda), Jeremy Taylor (Fiyero), Sam Kelly (The Wizard), Sue Kelvin (Madame Morrible) and Olivier award-winning actor Paul Clarkson (Doctor Dillamond) will join Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Katie Rowley Jones and Sam Lupton will continue as Nessarose and Boq. Emma Hatton will be Standby Elphaba and current ensemble cast member Sophie Linder-Lee will become Standby Glinda. The ensemble will feature: Florence Andrews, Kyle Anthony, William Bozier, Oliver Brenin, Lauren Brooke, Philippa Buxton, Philip Catchpole, Aisling Duffy, Samuel Edwards, Kerry Enright, Michelle Francis, Jacqueline Hughes, Melissa Jacques, Marc McBride, Stacey McGuire, Natalie McQueen, Greg Miller Burns, Tom Muggeridge, Rachel Muldoon, Sean Parkins, Charlie Stemp, Lauren Stroud, Lindsay Taylor, Justin Thomas, Hannah Toy, Matt Turner, Russell Walker and Jenny Wickham.