Wicked celebrates its 12th birthday in London’s West End

**Pictured:** Alice Fearn is Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West * * * Tonight’s performance of ***[Wicked](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)*** will mark **12 landmark years in the West End**. The performance tonight stars **Alice Fearn** as Elphaba, **Sophie Evans** as Glinda, **Melanie La Barrie** as Madame Morrible, **David Witts** as Fiyero, **Andy Hockley** as The Wizard, **Rosa O’Reilly** as Nessarose, **Chris Jarman** as Doctor Dillamond and **Jack Lansbury** as Bog. In addition to being the tenth longest-running musical in West End history, it is also currently the **fifth longest-running musical currently playing in the West End**, alongside **Disney’s** ***[The Lion King](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/9/the-lion-king-tickets.aspx)****, **[Mamma Mia!](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/1017/mamma-mia-tickets.aspx)**,* ***[Les Misérables](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/197/les-miserables-tickets.aspx)*** and ***[The Phantom of the Opera](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/13/phantom-of-the-opera-tickets.aspx)***. **Everyone’s favourite green musical** has already **reached several milestones** throughout its run and **continues to defy gravity** every year. It boasts being **seen by over 55 million people** from around the world and has won **over 100 major international awards**, the likes of which include **two Oliver Awards**, **three Tony Awards** for the Broadway production, and the **WhatsOnStage Award** for **Best West End Show**. ***[Wicked](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)*** features music and lyrics by **Stephen Schwartz**, the creative mastermind behind 1971’s *Godspell* who is also known for collaborating with **Alan Menken** on Disney’s *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*, *Pocahontas* and *Enchanted*. He has also written the music and lyrics for DreamWorks’ *The Prince of Egypt*, which recently premiered as a musical on Broadway with the Oscar® Award-winning song, ‘When You Believe’. ***[Wicked](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)*** is based on the **Gregory Maguire** novel, *Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,* which was adapted for the stage by **Winne Holzman**. ***[Wicked The Musical](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)*** is often mistakenly referred to as a prequel, but is, in fact, a **prequel**, **midquel**, and **sequel**, taking place before, during and after the events of *The Wizard of Oz*. Maguire has described his novel as a re-imagining of **L Frank Baum**’s magical world, but it fits so well with the original story that **many consider it to be canon**. Musical phenomenon ***[Wicked](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)*** continues its opened-end run at the **[Apollo Victoria Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/85/apollo-victoria-theatre.aspx)** in London. ***[Wicked](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)*** tickets are currently **booking until 25 May 2019**. Don’t miss this touching, and occasionally heart-wrenching, re-imagining of *The Wizard of Oz,* now celebrating a dozen spectacular years in the West End. * * * **[Purchase your *Wicked* tickets](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/384/wicked-tickets.aspx)**. Get in the spirit of *Wicked* and see our list for the [Top 5 Wicked songs](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/post/1298/top-5-wicked-songs.aspx). Are you a fan of trivia? Want to know more about *Wicked*? Then have a look at our **[Top 10 Wicked facts](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/post/1287/our-top-10-facts-about-wicked.aspx)**.