International Cinema Festival of India

I:21:JWICKED depending on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, guide by Winnie Holzman. Wicked The Musical, the spellbinding and magnificent hit musical, will be the untold story with the legendary witches from the Amazing Wizard of Oz.

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her partnership with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles by way of their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry more than the same love-interest, their reactions towards the Wizard’s corrupt federal government, and, ultimately, Elphaba’s public drop from grace. The plot is set mainly before Dorothy’s arrival from Kansas, and consists of a number of references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz.

When Dorothy famously triumphed more than the Wicked Witch, we only actually heard one facet of the story. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, created “one with the fantastic heroines of fantasy literature” – Los Angeles Times, explaining how a misunderstood, green girl named Elphaba became “wicked” but her unlikely friend, Glinda, became “good”.

The exceptional team that has brought this captivating tale to lifestyle on stage consists of a lot of of Broadway’s most celebrated creative talents. Winner of 15 major awards, this “spectacular spectacle” – New York Post transports audiences to a fantasy land of wizardry and witchcraft with Grammy Award-winning songs, Tony Award-winning sets and costumes, and stunning special effects.

The Washington Post calls Wicked “a breathtaking success tale of a magnitude the theatre has not witnessed since the peak years of the Phantom with the Opera”. Now you can experience this magical new musical adventure in London and discover that you’ve not been told the whole tale about the Land of Oz…

The Apollo Victoria Theatre was built as a ‘super-cinema’ and originally called the New Victoria Cine-Variety Theatre when it opened on 15th October, 1930 showing the movie “Old English” and a stage show called “Hoop-La”. This strikingly art deco cinema was designed, as were all super-cinemas with the period, with facilities for stage shows that would precede the cinema films. Provincial Cinematograph (PCT) invited Ernest Walmsley Lewis to submit plans to build the cinema close to Victorial Station. The theatre is now a Grade 2 Listed building with a seating capacity of 2348.

With two frontages along busy roads, it is alleged that taxi drivers called the theatre “Sing-Sing”. Since its opening the theatre has experienced many highs and lows. The theatre is now one of the leading West End theatres and has hosted such musicals as The Sound of Audio with Petula Clark, Camelot with Richard Harris, and Fiddler on The Roof with Topol.

In 1984 the theatre hosted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, a show which required much building work to be done for the auditorium due to the show’s special effects. After eighteen successful years the show ended on 12th January, 2002.

Since this time the Apollo Victoria has undergone much restoration work, returning the theatre to its former glory. Bombay Dreams previewed from 31st May 2002 with its opening night on June 19th, 2002. The show ran until June 2004, when it moved to America. Three weeks later Saturday Night Fever moved in exhilarating the West End with its 70′s style audio until 18th February, 2006.

On March 28th, 2006 Billy Joel’s smash hit Broadway show Movin’ Out opened for an eight week run. Since that time, further restoration work has continued until Wicked, The Untold Story with the Witches of Oz opened in September 2006 and is still performing to packed houses today.

Now seen in the theatre, are the emerald green iron railings. The black and silver-channelled foyer walls have been restored and the ceiling is back with its prismatic dazzling silver ornaments. Further work will probably be carried out on this wonderful theatre, but it is already a national treasure.

Visiting London and want some entertainment, then find out about buying London theatre tickets, where you can also find super Wicked tickets for you and your family.