8. Wicked
Where? Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road.
Starring: Louise Dearman, Gina Beck, Ben Freeman. Flying monkeys, ruby red slippers and a tornado-topping house all make appearances in the spellbinding musical Wicked, but the show does far more than recycle the clichés that we are familiar with from the original book and Technicolour film. Adapted from Gregory Maguires 1995 novel, Wicked is a dizzying theatrical spectacle that subverts the well-worn story of Oz and provides a shocking backstory to explain how the Witches of Oz earned their reputations as Glinda the Good and The Wicked Witch of the West long before Dorothy arrived on the scene. The musical begins in sorcery school where two young students, Elphaba and Galinda, are thrown together in a tumultous relationship that will span ambition, morality, love and eventually friendship. Exploring themes as complex as power, tyranny, discrimination, love and what it means to be different, Wicked is a whirlwind tour through the events leading up to Dorothys adventures over the rainbow that challenges all our expectations. In addition to its gripping plot the London production boasts some eye-popping special effects, elaborate costumes and stunning singing, all combining to make Wicked the most popular show to be created in the 21st century so far. Wicked tickets are available both via the box office and online; see our tickets page for more information.
Book here.