Review: Wicked at Leeds Grand Theatre

After months of hype - and over 40,000 tickets sold - the hit musical Wicked comes to Leeds Grand for a long-anticipated three-week run. The tale of how the Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West became a Munchkin-hating, Toto-napping, Dorothy-chasing all round nasty piece of work has won legions of devoted fans across the world.

GREEN SCENE Cast members Natalie Green, Richard Carson and Sophie Lee-Griffin.

And it’s not hard to see why. With a stunning set and gorgeous costumes it’s a visual treat with a whole songbook of catchy numbers and a solid story to boot.

It’s a common tale of girl meets boy meets girl as the future Good Witch of the North Glinda (Emily Tierney) meets her nemesis Elphaba (Nikki Davis-Jones) and true love Fiyero (Liam Doyle) at university.

What follows explains how Elphaba turns from college outcast to perceived villain with the help of a number of plot twists and turns and some showstopping scenes, not least stand-out number Defying Gravity which closes the first half with a particularly goosebumps moment.

In short, Wicked, which has already picked up 90 international awards, is worth every last word of the hype afforded to it.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to still get your hands on a ticket then fly to the Grand while you can.

Tickets for Wicked at The Grand cost between £18.50-£55. To book, visit www.leedsgrandtheatre.com or call the box office on 0844 848 2700.