Wicked - Apollo Victoria Theatre

Review Summary

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 128 review(s)



Latest Review: "Worst show I have seen in London everScreechey dialogue made my granddaughters ears hurt

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Age Restriction: Recommended for ages 7+, children under 4 will not be admitted. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by adult during the performance. 

Important Info: The producers cannot guarantee the appearance of any particular artist, which is always subject to illness and holidays. Circle row A Restricted View warning - Balcony wall (row A). It is recommended that these seats are for customers who are 5’8” (173cm) or taller but are suitable for most adults.

When you ask audiences to name some of the best known musicals running in the West End, there is a host of top-tier shows that they will name. Wicked must be amongst them, running at the Apollo Victoria Theatre next to the London Victoria Railway Station since 2006. With its memorable characters and a story that takes audiences to the popular Land of Oz it is easy to see how it has resonated with audiences and will continue to do so for many years to come.

But to full understand how the show continues to draw-in the crowds, one must take a look at its history, taking a trip to the first half of the 20th century.

In 1939 audiences around the world were amazed by the colourful adventure The Wizard Of Oz, the movie adaptation of L Frank Baum’s classic novel featuring Julie Garland travelling down a yellow brick road alongside some memorable companions. The movie popularised iconic characters from the Tin Man to the Scarecrow, whilst introducing new songs into mainstream culture such as Over the Rainbow and We’re Off To See The Wizard. But it also introduced us to two embittered enemies whose rivalry had a tight grip on the Land of Oz – and it’s these two characters who form the basis of Wicked.

In the stage musical, we learn how these two characters came to be. We start the story in the playground as two unlikely friends form the basis of the story. One of them is Glinda, a beautiful and popular girl with high ambitions, whilst the other is Elphaba – cursed with pearl green skin, shunned by her classmates and full of intelligence. Pretty soon their relationship develops into a bitter playground rivalry, one that will mirror the battle between the two later in their lives as they both grow up to become figures we recognise from Dorothy’s adventure – Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

This musical production at the Apollo Victoria Theatre features its own memorable songs, which have contributed to its long lasting popularity both in the West End and across the Atlantic on Broadway. Musical numbers include I’m Not That Girl, One Short Day, Popular, Defying Gravity and No-One Mourns The Wicked, amongst a range of others.

In addition to being a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, Wicked is also an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s source novel, which led to the Broadway adaptation early in the last decade. Now its success is felt worldwide and it is showing no signs of slowing down.

So if you are looking for a fantastic evening in London’s West End then look no further than this unmissable trip to the Land of Oz, which has been entertaining audiences for more than a decade and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Did You Know?

• Wicked’s full title is Wicked: The Untold Story Of The Witches of Oz.
• From 23rd July 2018 new cast member David Witts takes over the role of Fiyero. He will perform alongside Chris Jarman, Alice Fearn, Sophie Evans, Rosa O’Reilly and Andy Hockley, amongst others (correct as of July 2018).
• There have been many stars involved with the production over the years, including Idina Menzel, who played Elphaba on both sides of the Atlantic, Helen Dallimore and Kerry Ellis, amongst many others.
• Original West End cast members included Adam Garcia, Nigel Planer and Miriam Margolyes, amongst others.
• The show is based on the novel Wicked: The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West by Gregory Maguire. The 1995 novel was part of a series that also includes Son Of A Witch, A Lion Among Men and Out Of Oz.