Ever wondered how the rivalry between the Witches Of Oz began? Or whether they were once unlikely friends? Stephen Schwartz’s West End and Broadway musical spectacular, Wicked, tells the untold story of Glinda and Elphaba, the good and wicked witch of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. The multi-record-breaking UK and Ireland touring production, which has for a while been a global phenomenon featuring astounding technical wizardry and stunning costumes, returns to the Wales Millennium Centre for a four-week run this autumn.
On its first visit to Cardiff in 2014, Wicked notched up audience numbers of over 90,000 over its run. The musical’s popularity is no surprise, considering the talent behind it. With music and lyrics by multi Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz, musical staging by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello, Wicked is one of the most successful productions in the history of the Wales Millennium Centre, lugging behind with it a sizeable trophy cabinet.
Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked: The Life and Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West, Schwartz’s musical tells a story of friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University. Following a series of adventures and encounters in Oz, however, they will eventually fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch Of The West. With memorable music, including Wicked’s signature song, Defying Gravity, and a story that will make audiences question whether the Wicked Witch of the West was really as evil as she seemed, Wicked raises some important questions about friendship, growing up and how we treat those around us.
This year’s production will star Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda and Eastenders regular Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero, Elphaba’s love interest. Sure to be a great knees-up for anyone invested in a good ol’fashioned West End musical. MEGAN POTTERTON
Wicked, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Wed 31 Oct-Sat 24 Nov. Tickets: from £20. Info: www.wmc.org.uk