It seems everywhere you turn right now, everything is pink and green – Wicked has hit the cinemas and everyone is well and truly drinking the green elixir.
Coincidentally, the touring theatre show of Wicked, celebrating 21 years since the first Broadway show and 18 years since debuting in the West End, has landed in town. While everyone else is following the yellow brick road to the big screen, I followed it to the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
Now we all think we know the story of Dorothy, poor girl whipped away from home in a tornado and crushing an evil witch with her house – we’ve all been there. This story however, tells the story from the “Wicked” Witch of the West’s perspective, filled with mind-blowing vocal acrobatics from a cast that just won’t let up.
Floating in on a giant mechanical bubble enters Glinda, or “Garlinda” as she prefers to be called, Sarah Pickford sets the standard for the show. An operatic entrance, the audience is in absolute awe. A well known character, Sarah makes the Good Witch of the North her own with a comical kindness.
Laura Pick, who has played the role of Elphaba at the Apollo Victoria before, takes opening night in her green stride – her love for the character shines through and her voice. Her VOICE. Her rendition of Defying Gravity had me in tears. I knew the song was good, but not this good. The audience is electrified by her performance.
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The storytelling of the show is sublime, with every cast member pulling you deeper and deeper in through gravity-defying dance numbers and the set is absolutely jaw-dropping. The mechanical Wizard of Oz (voiced and played by the fantastic Simeon Truby) is something to behold.
Wicked is in Manchester at the Palace Theatre. Credit: Supplied
Other notable performances come from Carl Man (who plays love interest Fiyero), Donna Berlin (the surprisingly cruel Madame Morrible), Jed Berry (the googly-eyed Munchkin Boq) and Megan Gardiner. Megan plays Elhpaba’s sister Nessarose, another character desperate for love but sadly becomes quite sinister.
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Like the cogs in the Wizard’s head, the presence of each cast member keeps the show running like a well oiled machine.
The story itself is one of an outsider, desperate to be loved and accepted for her difference, who finds friendship in unlikely places and how two people can change for the better. Of course, like often in life, a man tries to ruin it (surprise surprise).
Wicked is back at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Credit: Mark Senior
A light is shone on how easily society can be whipped into a frenzy to protect their own beliefs and how love can withstand so much.
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The absolute star of the show however, is the iconic soundtrack and how awe-inspiring everyone is at singing. Genuinely, it was nearly impossible to not provide a standing ovation after every song. It was just that good. I’m even listening to the soundtrack right now as I write this on the tram home. I can’t (and don’t want to) get it out of my head.
Wicked is the 10th longest running West End show in British history and has won over 100 global awards. It has been seen by 65 million people worldwide (65 million and one now if you include me) and it isn’t hard to see why. Now a cinematic phenomenon, with Act 1 in cinemas now and Act 2 to hit the screen in November 2025.
Wicked is in Manchester for a six week season and is the tenth and final date after kicking off their tour in Edinburgh in December 2023.
The show closes on Sunday 12 January and remaining tickets are incredibly limited, so if you have one short day, spend it in Oz and book now while you can.
Follow the yellow brick road all the way to the theatre.
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Book your tickets to Wicked at the Palace Theatre Manchester HERE.
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty to return to Manchester for iconic film’s 30th anniversary
Emily Sergeant
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty is heading on a UK tour next year, and will be stopping off here in Manchester.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic British film of the same name, which was released to the world back in 1997, a major national tour of The Full Monty will kick off next year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most famous stages in the spring.
Described as being ‘fast-paced and irresistibly funny’, Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play tells the story of an ordinary group of men who are striving to reclaim their dignity and pride.
The film may be turning 30 years old next year, but the play remains as strikingly relevant today as it ever has, especially resonating powerfully in an era that is marked, once again, by an unfortunate cost of living crisis.
Audiences will get to watch as Gaz and his mates find themselves down on their luck, cast aside, and underestimated, but ultimately determined to fight back… even if it means revealing more about themselves than they ever imagined (wink wink).
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the iconic film, The Full Monty is back by popular demand and the boys are returning to The Opera House!
ATG+ Presale 👉 Wed 11 Mar 10am Groups Presale 👉 Wed 11 Mar 12pm General Sale 👉 Thu 12 Mar 10am
“A lot has changed in Britain since The Full Monty appeared thirty years ago,” Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said.
“What hasn’t changed is our need for laughter, compassion and dignity. I’m so delighted the Monty Men are back on the road with all their flaws, jokes and wobbly bits, bringing a bit of much-needed joy to audiences once again.”
So, what can audiences expect? Well, the production will deliver a ‘rollercoaster of laughter and heartbreak’, as crowds are invited to relive the iconic music of the 90s cheering on this unforgettable group of lads as they prepare to put on the show of their lives.
The Full Monty will take to the iconic Manchester Opera House stage from Monday 5 through to Saturday 10 April 2027, as well as dates in other northern cities like Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, York, and Glasgow, alongside many more major UK locations.
Casting is set to be announced soon so keep your eyes peeled.
But in the meantime, tickets are set to go on sale in March – with pre-sales starting on Wednesday 11 March, and general sale starting the day after (Thursday 12 March), both at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Theatre
The North West’s most infamous horror attraction Scare City is becoming an immersive theatre show
Emily Sergeant
One of the North West’s most infamous annual horror attractions is being turned into an immersive theatre show.
Scare City is the spine-chilling immersive horror experience that takes over the abandoned Camelot Theme Park even spooky season, becoming one of the region’s most-popular Halloween events along the way – with tens of thousands having visited over the last five years.
But this time, there’ll be no trails and no abandoned theme parks – just pure, live horror.
That’s because, this spring, the creators will drag audiences into a new kind of nightmare with the arrival of the Scare City Experience Live, bringing out of the Camelot grounds and into an ‘inescapable’ stage production.
Built from the twisted world of the original Scare City, the production will resurrect fan-favourite zones, characters, and signature scares, but ‘reimagine’ them for the stage with a relentless descent into fear, soaked in atmosphere and dread.
This time, there is no darkness to hide in, no escape route, no safe distance, and no way to look away as the nightmare unfolds in real-time and audiences watch the action play out inches away from their faces, with ‘disturbing’ imagery and a suffocating tension.
Scare City is returning as an immersive horror theatre show this spring / Credit: Supplied
Designed to push the boundaries of live horror, Scare City Experience Live will combine theatrical storytelling, live performers, sound, lighting, and ‘unsettling’ visuals to create an unforgettable and relentless experience with each performance playing the audience at the heart of the action, where the fear comes to them.
The production will offer both long-time Scare City fans and first-time visitors a new way to experience the brand’s dark universe.
Scare City Experience Live will be taking over the Liverpool Olympia between 22-25 May and 28-30 May 2026, and tickets are officially on sale now from £38 per person.
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
5th December 2024 
