A Night Out in London: Wicked

Wicked recently celebrated a two year run in the West End and it's little wonder that this show has been such a success. If you are looking for a spectacular production that comes with all the trimmings then this is the obvious choice.

It is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It follows the story of the Witches of Oz and how one came to called 'good' and the other one 'wicked'. The unlikely but endearing friendship between the two girls who first meet as Sorcery Students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl Elphaba, is the focal point of the tale.

Scenic designer Eugene Lee has transformed The Apollo Victoria Theatre into a fantasy land of witches, wizards and magic. The costume, designed by Susan Hilferty, is fittingly extravagant and the no expenses spared visuals make it easy to become absorbed in this supernatural world. Combined with show-stopping music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz it provides the perfect escape from reality.

Currently played by Alexia Khadime, Elphaba's climax to the most well-known number in the show, Defying Gravity, is a breathtaking piece of theatre. Raised in a cloud of smoke and with the chorus for support it is the kind of West End moment that gives you the goose-pimples. And then there is the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek performance of Popular by Dianne Pilkington who plays the part of Glinda with exuberance. She is great fun to watch.

With the spirit of Bonfire Night in the air there's no better way of capturing the atmosphere than a trip to see Wicked. This blockbuster of a musical is fabulously entertaining.