DEFY GRAVITY This Christmas, Discover A Different Side To Oz… WICKED Adds Two Extra Shows this Christmas

WICKED, the smash hit musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, has added two extra 2.30pm shows this Christmas on Tuesday 26 December and Friday 29 December at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Acclaimed as “the gravity-defying Wizard of Oz prequel” (Time Out London) and “a magical mystery tour through the fantasyland of Oz” (London Evening Standard), WICKED is already the 15th longest running show in London theatre history (and the 10th longest running musical), having recently surpassed the run of We Will Rock You. This “hugely popular show” (The Times) has now played almost 5000 performances, been seen by over 8.5 million people in London alone and won over 100 major awards around the world, including ten theatregoer-voted WhatsOnStage Awards(winning ‘Best West End Show’ on three occasions) and two Olivier Audience Awards in the UK.

WICKED currently starsAlice Fearn (Elphaba), Sophie Evans (Glinda), Bradley Jaden (Fiyero), Melanie La Barrie (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Sarah McNicholas (Nessarose), Jack Lansbury (Boq), Laura Pick (Standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie & Maria Coyne (Standby for Glinda).

Based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

WICKED has music and lyrics by multi Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and 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 and the production is directed 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.

Through its FOR GOOD programme and other charitable endeavours, WICKED is proud to support the remarkable work of the following UK charities: Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA); the CybersmileFoundation; the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity; Stonewall's ‘Education For All’ campaign; The Woodland Trust and the National Literacy Trust.

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

Official UK website

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

About Wicked

WORLDWIDE

“A phenomenon that keeps growing” (Los Angeles Times), WICKED has already been seen by over 53 million people around the world and is one of the most celebrated and successful musicals of all time. Winner of over 100 major international awards, the original production has already been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, China and Switzerland) and has also been translated from its original English into six other languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese.

LONDON

Now in its 12th year and already the 15th longest running show in London theatre history (and the 10th longest running musical in London theatre history), the West End production premiered on 27 September 2006 (with previews from 7 September) and has played almost 5000 performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Now also the 8th longest running show currently playing in the West End, WICKED has been hailed as “one of the greatest musicals of our time” (Daily Mail); “the biggest new musical London has seen in years” (BBC London News), “one of the most popular West End musicals ever” (London Evening Standard) and “the gravity-defying 'Wizard of Oz' prequel is one of the great success stories of recent times” (Time Out London).

BROADWAY

The multi record-breaking original Broadway production remains “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times) after 14 years and almost 6000 performances at the Gershwin Theatre, where it premiered on 30 October 2003 (with previews from 8 October 2003). Now the 8th longest-running show in Broadway history, WICKED has already been seen by over 10 million people on Broadway alone and been acclaimed as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart and courage” (Time Magazine), “an irresistible extravaganza of music, magic, artistry and enchantment” (The New York Observer) and “a spectacular spectacle” (New York Post).

CREATIVE TEAM

WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire. The production is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento. Scenic design is by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sound by Tony Meola, projection designs by Elaine J. McCarthy and Hair and Wig designs by Tom Watson. Music arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire and Stephen Oremus, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott, orchestrations by William David Brohn and musical supervision by Stephen Oremus.

THE STORY

Was the infamous Wicked Witch of the West really wicked, or the innocent victim of a corrupt regime?

When Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch, we only ever heard one side of the story. Gregory Maguire’s “outstanding novel” (The Independent), ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, ingeniously re-imagines the Land of Oz, creating a parallel universe to the familiar story written by L. Frank Baum and first published as ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ in 1900.

WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Experience this unforgettable musical and discover that you’ve not been told the whole story about the Land of Oz.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

NOW BOOKING TO SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2018

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

Box Office Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 7.45pm
No booking fees or transaction charges for tickets booked in person at the Box Office

Official UK website / 24hr online bookings: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Telephone bookings: ATG Tickets 0844 871 3001
(Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge)

Ticket prices: from £19.50 - £175.00*
*An ATG Tickets booking fee of up to £2.75 may apply to bookings made online and by telephone. A one-off ATG Tickets £3.00 transaction fee may also be added to each booking made online and by telephone. All ticket prices include a £1.75 Theatre Restoration Levy.

Group Sales (10 tickets or more): Group Line 020 7206 1174 / www.Groupline.com/Wicked
No booking or transaction fees for group bookings of 10 or more. Sales subject to terms and conditions.

Day Seats: £29.50: A limited number of seats released daily for that day’s performance(s) at 10.00am, in person at the Box Office.

Students: Best available seats £29.50 from 10.00am at Monday-Friday 7.30pm and Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm at the Box Office with student ID. Subject to availability. One ticket per ID.

Standby Concessions: Best available seats £29.50 from 10.00am at Monday-Friday 7.30pm and Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm at the Box Office for Senior Citizens, Jobseekers, Equity, BECTU and MU members and registered disabled. Subject to availability. One ticket per ID.

Performance Times: Monday-Saturday 7.30pm, matinees Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including one 20-minute interval.

CHRISTMAS 2017 SCHEDULE:

Saturday 23 December @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 24 December – no performance
Monday 25 December – no performance
Tuesday 26 December @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Wednesday 27 December @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Thursday 28 December @ 7.30pm
Friday 29 December @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Saturday 30 December @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm

EXTRA SHOWS ADDED IN 2018:
Thursday 15 February, Thursday 12 April, Thursday 16 August,
Thursday 30 August and Thursday 25 October

All extra shows commence at 2.30pm

Gregory Maguire’s ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ is published in the UK by Headline.
The book is recommended for readers aged 16+

The Grammy award-winning Original Broadway Cast recording on DECCA BROADWAY

The Rubens at the Palace is the official hotel partner of WICKED London.