Everything you need to know about ‘Wicked’ in London
From where to get Wicked tickets in London, to all the actresses who have played Elphaba in the West End, find out more about Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Having defied gravity at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for over a decade, West End audiences are left entranced by the magic of Wicked. The stories of Elphaba, Glinda and Fiyero continue to charm crowds for generations to come. With showstoppers like "No Good Deed" and even flying witches, it's no surprise that audiences flock to Wicked time and time again. Here's our complete guide to the West End production of Wicked.
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What is Wicked about?
Born with green skin, Elphaba had always found herself to be a bit different from the rest — standing out from the crowd. When she's enrolled at Shiz Academy, Elphaba just wants to knuckle down and study. Instead, she's met by her new roommate Glinda, a super-feminine woman who can't stand Elphaba.
Unbelievably, Elphaba and Glinda become close friends, embarking on a journey to meet the Wizard of Oz. But, when Ozian heartthrob and Glinda's fiance Fiyero comes on the scene, this time to support Elphaba, hopes are crushed. Elphaba must decide whether to use her newfound abilities for good, or become wicked.
Is Wicked based on a true story?
No, Wicked is based on fictional events. However, Wicked is inspired by Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The sequel attempts to explain how Elphaba dealt with Ozian areas like Munchkinland and the Emerald City.
When did Wicked premiere?
The world premiere of Wicked opened at San Francisco's Curran Theatre on 28 May 2003. The California engagement ran for one month, before its subsequent Broadway premiere.
Wicked began Broadway performances at the Gershwin Theatre on 8 Oct. 2003, with an official premiere on 30 October, the night before Halloween. Broadway performances of Wicked have continued at the Gershwin Theatre ever since.
On 11 Apr. 2023, Wicked played its 7,486th performance on Tuesday, becoming the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.
After three years in New York, Wicked finally transferred to London's West End, arriving at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from 7 Sept. 2006. Like the Broadway production, Wicked in London has only ran at one theatre, with shows at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for over a decade.
Who wrote Wicked?
Winnie Holzman created the Wicked storyline. She is an American screenwriter who actually made her Broadway writing debut with the show. For television, she has written thirtysomething, Once and Again and Roadies. Holzman also writes the screenplay for the upcoming Wicked film adaptation.
Who wrote the songs in Wicked?
Stephen Schwartz created the Wicked music and lyrics. He is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer, Schwartz has worked on a variety of productions including Pippin and Godspell. Find out more about Stephen Schwartz musicals.
Who is in the Wicked West End cast?
The Wicked cast in London stars Emma Kingston as Elphaba, Zizi Strallen as Glinda, Carl Man as Fiyero, with Sarah Ingram as Madame Morrible, Michael Matus as The Wizard, Ross Carpenter as Boq, David McKechnie as Doctor Dillamond, and Hannah Qureshi as Nessarose.
Iroy Abesamis, Zac Adlam, Steph Asamoah, Meg Astin, Rebecca Bowden, Shaun Chambers, Erin Gisele Chapman, Grace Durkin, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Aaron Elijah, Aimee Hodnett, Nat Ingham, Holly Lawrence, Jemima Loddy, Josh Lovell, Rory Maguire, PaddyJoe Martin, JoJo Meredith, Ayden Morgan, Rina Punwani, Abbie Quinnen, Jemma Revell, Jeanie Ryan, Charlotte Anne Steen, Chris Tarsey, Hannah Taylor, James Titchener, and Jacob Young complete the Wicked ensemble.
Have any celebrities starred in Wicked in London?
As one of the biggest West End musicals in London, Wicked attracts its fair share of celebrity casting. In fact, Frozen actress Idina Menzel originated the role of Elphaba in London, reprising her Broadway performance. Menzel starred in the production from 7 Sept. - 30 Dec. 2006, with Kerry Ellis taking over the role.
Adam Garcia originated the role of Fiyero in Wicked, having previously starred in Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium. Busted's Matt Willis also got a taste for theatre playing Fiyero, taking over the role in 2012. Since then, Willis has starred in Little Shop of Horrors at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
Plenty of famous West End actresses enjoyed a career-defining turn as Elphaba in Wicked. Find out more about actresses who have played Elphaba in London.
What theatre in London is Wicked playing at?
Wicked is at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Wicked has run continuously at the Apollo Victoria Theatre since the musical opened in 2006.
What is the running time of Wicked?
The running time of Wicked in London is 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15 minute interval.
What are the songs in Wicked?
Wicked features modern-day musical classics including "One Short Day" and "The Wizard and I". We've listed all the songs in Wicked below. Find out more about Wicked musical songs.
Act 1
"No One Mourns the Wicked" - Glinda, Witch's Father, Witch's Mother, Midwife, Ensemble
"Dear Old Shiz" - Ensemble
"The Wizard and I" - Madame Morrible, Elphaba
"What is this Feeling?" - Glinda, Elphaba, Ensemble
"Something Bad" - Dr. Dillamond, Elphaba
"Dancing Through Life" - Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba, Ensemble
"Popular" - Glinda
"I'm Not That Girl" - Elphaba
"The Wizard and I (Reprise)" - Elphaba
"One Short Day" - Elphaba, Glinda, Emerald City Citizens
"A Sentimental Man" - The Wizard
"Defying Gravity" - Elphaba, Glinda, Company
Act 2
"No One Mourns the Wicked (Reprise)" - Ensemble
"Thank Goodness" - Glinda, Madam Morrible, Ensemble
"The Wicked Witch of the East" - Elphaba, Nessarose, Boq
"Wonderful" - The Wizard and Elphaba
"I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)" - Glinda
"As Long As You're Mine" - Elphaba, Fiyero
"No Good Deed" - Elphaba
"March of the Witch Hunters" - Boq, Ensemble
"For Good" - Glinda and Elphaba
"Finale: For Good (Reprise)" - Elphaba, Glinda, Company
Characters in Wicked
The strong female friendship between Glinda and Elphaba is at the heart of this much-loved musical, but there are lots of other characters you should get to know.
- Elphaba: The misunderstood "Wicked Witch of the West," powerful, intelligent, and determined to fight for justice despite prejudice.
- Glinda: The "Good Witch," popular, bubbly, and charming. She becomes a friend to Elphaba but her need to adhere to the rules causes a rift.
- Fiyero: A carefree prince who matures into a thoughtful, conflicted character, torn between Elphaba and Glinda.
- The Wizard of Oz: The charismatic and manipulative ruler of Oz.
- Madame Morrible: Power-hungry headmistress of Shiz University.
- Boq: A kind-hearted Munchkinlander with a crush on Glinda, who is later transformed due to his involvement with Elphaba and Nessarose.
- Nessarose: Elphaba’s disabled younger sister, who uses a wheelchair and is in love with Boq.
- Doctor Dillamond: The only talking animal professor at Shiz, who is oppressed for being a goat.
Onscreen adaptations of Wicked
In November 2024, a screen adaptation of Wicked was released, directed by Jon M Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, and many more actors. The second instalment — Wicked: For Good — will land in cinemas in the UK on 21 November 2025. To find out more about the different West End stars in the film adaptation, read our round-up.
Watch the Wicked: For Good trailer now.
What are some fun facts about Wicked?
Did you know that Elphaba isn't actually named in The Wizard of Oz? Her name came directly from L. Frank Baum's initials. Sounding out the three letters becomes El-ph-buh and so Elphaba was born.
Thankfully, there isn't just one of each prop. All the hats, wands and brooms have stunt doubles (of sorts) so the magic can still happen on stage.
You too can achieve Elphaba's vertigris if you want. To achieve the desired green colour, makeup artists use Chromacake, a MAC product.
The production also requires about 250 pounds of dry ice to create all of the dramatic fog.
It's not just witches that fly. So do spacemen. Infact, NASA has even used "Defying Gravity" to accompany their space travels.
The Grammy Award-winning original Broadway cast recording of Wicked has sold nearly four million copies.
How do I get Wicked tickets in London?
It doesn't take a magic spell to book Wicked tickets. You can book Wicked West End tickets on London Theatre for all upcoming performances. Wicked tickets are popular though, so make sure you book tickets now to see Elphaba soar over the Western sky.
Book Wicked tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk
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Photo credit: Wicked (Photos courtesy of production)
Frequently asked questions
What is Wicked about?
What happened before Dorothy dropped in? The Wizard of Oz is reimagined in this record-breaking musical classic. Sweeping awards and selling out across the world, you won’t want to miss the chance to see the dazzling original staging. Get your tickets to Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre today.
How long is Wicked?
The running time of Wicked is 2hr 45min. Incl. 1 interval.
Where is Wicked playing?
Wicked is playing at Apollo Victoria Theatre. The theatre is located at 17 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG.
What's the age requirement for Wicked?
The recommended age for Wicked is Ages 7+. Under 16s must be accompanied by and sat next to an adult (18+). Children under 5 years will not be admitted. All persons attending, regardless of age, must have a ticket..
How do you book tickets for Wicked?
Book tickets for Wicked on London Theatre.
What are the songs in Wicked?
Wicked includes famous songs, such as “Popular,” “Defying Gravity,” and “No Good Deed.” Read our complete song guide to Wicked.
Who wrote Wicked?
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for Wicked, with a book by Winnie Holzman. The musical is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.
Who directed Wicked?
Wicked was directed by the award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello (Boys in the Band, Assassins).
When did Wicked open in the West End?
Wicked opened in the West End on 27 September 2006 at the Apollo Victoria. The production is one of the longest-running musicals in the West End.
Is Wicked appropriate for kids?
Wicked can be enjoyed by all ages but is most suitable for those above the age of 7. Children under the age of 5 will not be permitted into the venue.
Is Wicked good?
Wicked has delighted audiences in London’s West End for over 15 years with the magic of Oz. Read our five-star review of Wicked.
What book is Wicked the musical based on?
The musical is based on the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. His book expands into the world of the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
Is Wicked the musical scary?
There are some mildly scary moments in Wicked but the content is appropriate for those of all ages. It is advised that those attending be above the age of 7.
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