Wicked Flies Back To Edinburgh

Wicked returns to Edinburgh Playhouse for a 5 week run from Tuesday 8th May to Saturday 9th June 2018.

Article Source: Edinburgh Playhouse
Last Updated: 19 January 2017 11:33

WICKED FLIES BACK TO EDINBURGH FOR ITS ONLY SCOTTISH DATES ON NEW UK & IRELAND TOUR

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is delighted to confirm that its spectacular, multi record-breaking and critically acclaimed touring production will return to the Edinburgh Playhouse in 2018. One of the most successful productions in the venue’s history, WICKED was previously seen by over 175,000 people - equivalent to 1 in 3 of the entire population of Edinburgh - during its celebrated engagement from November 2014 - January 2015. Edinburgh Playhouse will be the only Scottish venue on this new UK & Ireland Tour.

“An incredible production that deserves every bit of its stellar reputation” (Sunday Mail), WICKED returns for five weeks only from Tuesday 8 May to Saturday 9 June 2018. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday 8 February.

Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “We were overwhelmed by the incredible response from audiences and critics alike when we first brought Wicked to Scotland in 2014, and it is extraordinary to think that over 175,000 people came and saw us in Edinburgh alone. The whole team at the Edinburgh Playhouse showed such tremendous enthusiasm and support, and we’re all really delighted to return to this magnificent venue for this exclusive Scottish engagement.”

Deborah Newman, General Manager, Edinburgh Playhouse said, “We’re delighted to welcome back Wicked on this, its only Scottish dates in 2018. This award-winning show amazed and thrilled huge audiences here in Edinburgh last time around. It is an enduring story brought to life, truly reflecting the magic of theatre and is particularly engaging with our younger audiences, therefore especially relevant coming in Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018.”

Acclaimed as “one of the greatest musicals of our time” (Daily Mail), “a magical mystery tour through the fantasyland of Oz” (London Evening Standard) and “one of the West End’s true modern classics” (Metro), WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students and their extraordinary adventures in Oz, which will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters originally created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, WICKED has become a global phenomenon featuring astounding technical wizardry, stunning costumes and show-stopping songs by three-time Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz.

This spectacular production of WICKED, acclaimed by the Northern Echo as “the ultimate Broadway experience for theatre audiences all over the UK”, played a fifteen-city tour of the UK & Ireland from September 2013 - July 2015, winning five-star rave reviews at every venue. It resumed touring in July 2016 to embark on a major international tour including engagements in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Shanghai and Beijing, before a much anticipated return to the UK & Ireland in 2018.

WICKED is already the 17th longest running show in West End theatre history and recently celebrated a decade of performances at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it continues an open-ended run. Around the world, WICKED has now been seen by over 50 million people in 15 countries, and won over 100 major awards.

WICKED has music and lyrics by multi Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted) and is based on the acclaimed novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

WICKED is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK/International Tour) Michael McCabe.

Casting for the 2018 UK & Ireland Tour is to be announced.

WICKED IN NUMBERS

• WICKED was seen by over 175,000 people in its first visit to Edinburgh Playhouse in 2014, equivalent 1 in 3 of the entire population of Edinburgh. (population source: www.nrscotland.gov.uk)
• WICKED was seen by over 270,000 people in Scotland during its 2014/15 UK & Ireland Tour, across Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. This is equivalent to 5% or 1 in 20 of the entire population of Scotland. (population source: www.nrscotland.gov.uk)
• By the time this acclaimed production of WICKED returns to Edinburgh it will have travelled almost 12 thousand miles (by road, sea and air) since its debut in Manchester on 12 September 2013.
• Almost 1.5 million theatregoers have seen this production to date.
• This “spectacularly good show” (Daily Record) features 350 stunning costumes, 140 wigs, 244 pairs of shoes, 110 hats, 125 pairs of gloves and 30 prosthetic masks.
• It takes 100 people, both on-stage and behind the scenes, to delivery every single performance of this gigantic touring production that has been acclaimed as “every bit the West End show” (The Public Reviews).

WICKED AROUND THE WORLD

• WICKED has been seen by over 50 million people across over 100 cities in 15 countries.
• WICKED is already the 17th longest running show in London theatre history and now one of the top five longest running musicals currently playing in the West End.
• WICKED recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary in the West End, and has played over 4000 performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it continues an open-ended run.
• WICKED has won over 100 major awards including 3 Tony Awards, 6 Drama Desk Awards, 2 Olivier Audience Awards, 9 WhatsOnStage Awards, an Evening Standard Theatre Award and a Grammy Award.
• WICKED was also recently named as the ‘Best Theatre Production for Schools’ at the School Travel Awards.

Photo by Matt Crockett features Carly Anderson and Jacqueline Hughes from current tour cast. 2018 cast to be announced.

Official website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk
Twitter: @WickedUK
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