Everything you need to know about ‘WICKED’ in London

The Story Behind Wicked

The stage sensation is the product of a rich tapestry of stories influencing each other and evolving over the years. It all started with L Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was adapted in 1939 into the unforgettable film, The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland, turning into a cultural phenomenon that has inspired pop culture and spawned countless retellings. One of these was Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the Westvi, which turned the iconic villainess of the original book and film into an unlikely anti-hero. Maguire’s dark, comedic story was turned into a stage musical with a book by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, premiering on Broadway in 2003 and in the West End in 2006.

And today, 125 years after Baum first put pen to page, Wicked is one of the most beloved and well-known musicals of all time, due to celebrate its 20th anniversary in the West End next year.

What is Wicked About?

Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz follows a very unlikely heroine: the future Wicked Witch of the West. But when our story begins, she’s just Elphaba Thropp, a girl born with green skin, who enrolls at Shiz University to keep an eye on her wheelchair-bound sister Nessarose. There, she accidentally becomes roommates with the pretty and popular Galinda Upland, the future Glinda the Good. Instant loathing turns into an unexpected and fierce friendship, which is tested when Elphaba discovers the hidden atrocities being committed against the talking animals of Oz and that their beloved wizard isn’t as benevolent as he seems. As the world turns against her, it seems inevitable that she’s destined to be the wicked witch everything thinks she is - or is she?

The 2023 cast of WICKED at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Image courtesy of production.

Why Is Wicked So Popular?

Everyone loves a villain - they’re fun, scary, and often more interesting than heroes. But we also love a villain who’s a little misunderstood, one we empathise with and cheer on in their villainy. In Wicked, we're introduced to a new and unlikely version of the iconic Wicked Witch of the West, who's as tragic and endearing as she is powerful and admirable. And of course, it's impossible not to love the heartwarming and heartbreaking friendship between Elphaba and Glinda.

The world of Wicked is also delightfully whimsical and colourful - from the campy, extravagant costumes to the talking animals and flying monkeys to the visually stunning sets like the glittering Emerald City. But it hides a dark heart, with a searing social commentary on oppression and identity, making it the perfect combination of light and serious.

The soundtrack is also universally beloved, packed with musical numbers that you’ll know and love: from the devastatingly epic opening number ‘No One Mourns the Wicked’, where the munchkins celebrate the Wicked Witch’s death, to the peppy ‘Popular’, where a gleeful Glinda attempts to give an unimpressed Elphaba a makeover, to Elphaba’s soul-stirring anthem of freedom, ‘Defying Gravity’, and so many more.

Elphabas and Glindas Over The Years

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande may have won our hearts on screen with their undeniable chemistry and charm as the duo of doomed best friends, but there’s a long and formidable line of Elphabas and Glindas who came before them. While it’s impossible to name them all, let’s take a look at some of the most famous ones…

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated and immortalised the roles of Elphaba and Glinda from 2003 to 2005 on Broadway, earning a much-deserved Tony Award for the former. Until Erivo and Grande, it was their iconic voices and looks that remained synonymous with these beloved characters long after they stopped playing them. Menzel and Chenoweth even have a small but delightful cameo during ‘One Short Day’ in the first Wicked film!

Kerry Ellis and Dianne Pilkington were the first British principal Elphaba and Glinda on the West End from 2007. Ellis had previously served as Menzel’s standby, playing opposite Helen Dallimore during the first West End transfer of the show. Both were nominated for the Best Takeover Role in the WhatsOnStage Awards.

Stephanie J Block and Annaleigh Ashford played the famous best friends on Broadway in 2007. Block had previously played the role of Elphaba in workshops and served as an understudy for Menzel before taking over for her, opposite Ashford, who’d also been an understudy.

Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman took the roles in 2010. Tucker is the longest-serving Elphaba in history, while Dearman has the unique distinction of being the only actress to play both Elphaba and Glinda - she returned to Wicked in 2012, replacing Tucker as Elphaba opposite Gina Beck’s Glinda.

Alexia Khadime and Lucy St Louis made history in 2023 as the first women of colour to play Elphaba and Glinda - fitting for a story where our heroine is judged and defined by the colour of her skin.

Currently in the West End, Emma Kingston (Evita, Heathers The Musical) and Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins) are playing Elphaba and Glinda respectively.

Honourable mention: Although they predate Wicked, we have to give credit to the first ever interpretations of Glinda the Good Witch and the (then unnamed) Wicked Witch of the West, played by Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 film, who inspired the looks of their stage counterparts, from Glinda’s glittery pink dress to Elphaba’s green skin and pointy hat. Margaret Hamilton was so terrifying in the role that it earned her the title of the American Film Institute’s fourth-greatest villain of all time, ranking below Hannibal Lecter, Norman Bates, and Darth Vader.

Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen in WICKED. Image courtesy of production.

Some Fun Facts About Wicked

Gregory Maguire chose the name Elphaba for the nameless Wicked Witch of the West by combining the initials of her original creator, L Frank Baum: LFB.

Believe it or not, Wicked was originally hated by critics after its first previews, with one joking that he wished he had a pair of ruby slippers so he could teleport out of the performance. Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman spent three months reworking the show before its Broadway premiere.

‘Defying Gravity’, the show-stopping number that marks the end of Act 1, has been played in space, used by NASA as a wake-up call for astronauts.

Maguire was inspired for the original book by the Gulf War and the portrayal of Saddam Hussein in the western media, and by the murder of a two-year-old in Liverpool by two ten-year-old boys, which got him wondering whether people could be born evil or if they were changed by circumstances.

Idina Menzel showed up to her audition in green eyeshadow, green lipstick, and dark, grungy clothes to capture the character of Elphaba. Although she was convinced she’d bombed the audition after her voice cracked while singing ‘Defying Gravity’, the producers loved her, and she got the part.

Have You Watched Wicked Yet?

Wicked is an undeniable staple of the West End, so if you love The Wizard of Oz, have a soft spot for misunderstood villains, can’t get enough of the catchy soundtrack, or are waiting to see Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande break our hearts on the big screen later this month, head on over to the Apollo Victoria Theatre to experience the timeless musical that started it all.