The award-winning musical Wicked has announced a major two-year UK and Ireland tour set to perform in 10 cities, with Manchester being one of them. The spectacular, multi-record-breaking and critically-acclaimed touring production will be flying back to Manchester Palace Theatre for six weeks only during from Tuesday 3 December 2024 to Sunday 12 January 2025. Yes, it’s hard to think that far ahead but with a whopping 100 awards including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, it’s a show not to be missed.
One of the best-selling productions in Manchester Palace Theatre’s history, Wicked sold over 225,000 tickets across its two celebrated previous engagements in 2013 and 2018, and this May tickets will go on sale for the show. The West End and Broadway musical phenomenon, that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, continues its open-ended run at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it has already been seen by more than 11 million people and is now in its 17th year.
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The cast for the UK and Ireland 2023-2025 tour is yet to be announced, however the musical was made famous on Broadway in 2003 having featured a star-studded cast including Frozen‘s Idina Menzel as Elphaba, who also returned to play the role at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre in 2006.
Wicked Executive Producer (UK & Ireland), Michael McCabe, said: “We are proud to be bringing Wicked back to the magnificent Palace Theatre, where incredible audiences greeted us during two previous sold-out engagements. We’re excited to have this opportunity to share once again the spectacle, magic and emotion that has created unforgettable memories for audiences in Manchester and all around the world.”
Robin Hawkes, Theatre Director of the Palace Theatre & Opera House, said: “It is a privilege to be hosting this world-renowned, record-breaking production once again after its previous sell-out runs with us. Seeing these huge West End productions continue to return to our venues illustrates that the appetite for musical theatre in our region is stronger than ever. We look forward to watching this wonderful show cast its spell over both audience goers and our city.”
Wicked has already been seen by more than 60 million people around the world and has been performed in over 130 cities in 16 countries. Tickets to see the musical Wicked in Manchester will go on general sale on Friday 19th May and fans of the musical will also be able to sign up for priority access here.