Twenty years of Wicked: celebrating two decades of magic at the Apollo Victoria
Twenty years after Wicked first opened its doors at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, the West End phenomenon has become firmly woven into the fabric of London theatre. On Saturday 26 September, the production marked the milestone with two special anniversary performances celebrating the witches who have captivated audiences for two decades.
The afternoon ‘Pink’ performance placed Glinda firmly in the spotlight, with current Glinda Zizi Strallen joined in celebration by four of the iconic performers who have previously taken on the role. At the start of the performance, the former Glindas were invited to give speeches celebrating the character, the production and the remarkable legacy built over the past 20 years.
There was something particularly fitting about seeing generations of Glindas come together. Since Wicked first arrived in London in 2006, the role has been played by a long line of performers, each bringing their own interpretation to the bubbly, ambitious and ultimately big-hearted Good Witch. The anniversary offered a chance not only to celebrate the production itself, but the performers who have helped make her such an enduring character.
The celebrations continued throughout the Apollo Victoria, with special Glinda costume displays and a commemorative programme and ‘Pink’ gift bag for ticketholders, turning the theatre into something of an Emerald City of memories.
That evening, attention shifted to Elphaba for the ‘Green’ anniversary performance, with current Elphaba Emma Kingston taking centre stage. Special Elphaba costume displays once again celebrated the history of the production, alongside the commemorative programme and green gift bags for ticketholders.
It is difficult to overstate quite how much Wicked has become part of the West End landscape. Opening at the Apollo Victoria on 27 September 2006, the production is now in its 20th year at the venue and has played more than 7,500 performances in London. More than 13 million people have seen the show in the capital, while its international productions have taken the story to more than 130 cities across 16 countries.
Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the musical reimagines the familiar world of Oz through the unlikely friendship of Elphaba and Glinda. Rather than simply retelling The Wizard of Oz, it explores the events, choices and relationships that shape the two women before, during and beyond the story audiences already know.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, Wicked has gone on to become a global theatrical phenomenon, winning more than 100 awards worldwide, including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy Award and eleven WhatsOnStage Awards.
But statistics only tell part of the story. For many audiences, Wicked is tied to a particular performer, a particular song or a particular first trip to the theatre. For others, it has become a tradition passed from one generation to the next. The anniversary celebrations at the Apollo Victoria offered a chance to recognise that history, while also looking towards the next chapter.
Two decades on, the story of two young women arriving at university in Oz continues to resonate, and the revolving door of performers stepping into the iconic roles ensures that the story never quite stays the same.
As the Apollo Victoria continues its open-ended run, Wicked shows no sign of leaving Oz behind. Twenty years in, there are still new Glindas, new Elphabas and new audiences waiting to discover why everyone deserves a chance to defy gravity.