The must-see musical phenomenon Wicked has been welcoming young theatregoers to London’s West End for almost two decades.
On Sunday 27 September, the beloved blockbuster stage show celebrated 20 years at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, having been seen by almost 14 million people in London alone, and is now the ninth longest-running West End show in British history.
The untold story of Oz
Acclaimed as “a huge, bright, colourful production that’s full of wonder and joy” (Official London Theatre), this epic fantasy musical ingeniously re-imagines the world of L. Frank Baum’s ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’.
In 1995, the American author Gregory Maguire sought to re-tell Baum’s wondrous tale of Oz in his darkly brilliant novel ‘Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ was first published in 1995, Maguire’s revisionist tale, which he wrote while living in London, quickly became a New York Times bestseller, and posed the question ‘Was the Wicked Witch of the West really wicked or the innocent victim of a corrupt regime?’
“In an age dominated by fake news, corrupt leaders, and political scapegoats, the story at the heart of ‘Wicked’ has never felt timelier.”
English Teacher, West Suffolk College
Delivering unforgettable experiences since 2006
Three-time winner of ‘Best Theatre Production for Schools’ at the annual School Travel Awards, Wicked takes learners on an unforgettable journey beyond the famous Yellow Brick Road.
Wicked Active Learning, the show’s in-house education programme, was launched in early 2022 as a direct response to the post-COVID industry need to support the return of educational visits to live theatre. The programme builds upon the production’s success to provide an industry-leading teaching and planning hub for educators.
Committed to keeping Wicked accessible to young people, education ticket prices remain frozen from £19.50 per student, with free teacher places also available. Educators can also benefit from a library of over 40 free, downloadable resources spanning multiple curriculum links including Art, Drama, English, PSHE & more.
A post-show Q&A with cast & production staff was recently added to the programme, enabling students to develop a deeper connection with the production and gain an understanding of industry career paths.
In March 2023, our expert teams developed a programme of Official Wicked Workshops that continue to offer outstanding, unique experiences for young people. Students can experience a Musical Theatre, Wellbeing or Anti-Bullying workshop either in the heart of London’s West End, or on-site in school with the Learning Team.
In an industry first, Wicked also offers a free on-demand Anti-Bullying workshop that can be streamed direct into the classroom.
“For many of our students, this was their first time attending a musical or live theatre performance. The quality of the production, combined with the excellent seating, made the experience truly memorable for them.”
Drama Teacher, Thomas More School
Bringing Oz to life
Nothing beats seeing the original West End production live on stage, complete with the biggest orchestra in the West End, and hits including Popular, For Good and the iconic Defying Gravity, which is included in the Edexcel GCSE Music syllabus.
Wicked was adapted for the stage by Emmy® and Tony Award® nominee Winnie Holzman, creator of the landmark American television series ‘My So-Called Life’, with songs by multi-Oscar® and Grammy® Award winner Stephen Schwartz, the legendary composer and lyricist of ‘Godspell’ and ‘Pippin’.
Acclaimed Broadway director Joe Mantello, together with his team of award-winning designers and theatre-makers, has created an imaginative and visually spectacular world within which the musical’s extraordinary story unfolds.
“An outstanding opportunity to evaluate live theatre and the work of theatre-makers, ‘Wicked’ is a masterclass of production values and performance and provides memories for a lifetime.”
Director of Performing Arts, Churchill Academy and Sixth Form
Schools can celebrate 20 years of Wicked in the West End at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, where Wicked is currently booking all dates to August 2027.
