Calling all cowardly lions, foolish scarecrows, unfeeling tin men, and generally wicked witches – a show-stopping musical is set to arrive in London this summer. And you don’t want to miss it! The Wizard of Oz musical has clicked its heels together three times and is flying its way home to the West End.
The Wizard of Oz musical finally returns to our capital after a record-breaking tour of the UK and Ireland. They’ve been making their way along the yellow brick road all across the country, and now they’re on their way back. The Wizard of Oz musical will touch down at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Thursday, August 15. But it won’t be around for long! It will run for just three and a half weeks, with a final performance on Sunday, September 8.
And as if the limited run wasn’t reason enough to run and grab tickets now – the shows will also boast a powerhouse cast. JLS sensation Aston Merrygold will star as The Tin Man, with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West. They’re joined by Allan Stewart (Stones in His Pockets, Hello, Good Evening, Welcome) and Alex Bourne (Annie, Hairspray) reprising their touring roles and sharing the role of The Wizard.
The Wizard of Oz musical
You’re probably most familiar with the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the Judy Garland-starring film, The Wizard of Oz. It’s the kind of cinematic classic that gets replayed on TV all year round and is constantly winning new fans. In fact, as The Wizard of Oz returns to the London stage in 2024 it marks the 85th anniversary of the iconic film.
Otherwise, you might know it from the many other adaptations. Adaptations have ranged from TV to film, across animation and live-action. The most famous examples include The Wiz, Oz the Great and Powerful, and the musical phenomenon that is Wicked. (“It’s time to try defying gravity.“)
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams helmed the musical adaptation of the L. Frank Baum book, with music and lyrics from Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. The musical uses the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, with performances of iconic tracks such as Over The Rainbow and We’re Off To See The Wizard and additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
The Wizard of Oz musical will run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from August 15 – September 8.