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.
Manchester City Council green-light new venue at Medlock Square, with Mamma Mia! The Party to open the immersive space
Danny Jones
The smash-hit ‘Mamma Mia: The Party’ is set to land in Manchester next year as the maiden event of another brand-new space set to open as part of the upcoming Medlock Square development.
Etihad Campus has seen a lot of moving pieces over the past few years, be it the building of Co-op Live, the ongoing expansion of Man City’s home ground, the soon-to-launch hotel attached to the stadium and now Medlock.
But those in control of the land are content with stopping there; this looks to be just the start of a whole new evolution for the East Manchester area, with an as yet untitled new immersive arts, experience and events venue also set to join the new slate of projects.
You see another glimpse of the purpose-built mini arena, of sorts, down below.
With plans having now been approved by the City Council, the ‘immersive’ space will be situated between the Etihad, Co-op Live and Medlock Square itself, holding up to 600 guests per performance.
Currently set to open in late 2027, following the rest of the square’s launch window being fully rolled out, we still don’t know the name of this next addition, but the structure itself will dovetail with the surrounding buildings and areas as part of seasonal activations, live shows and sports screenings, as well as pop-ups, brand collaborations and more.
Looping back, the interactive, multimedia extravaganza that is ‘Mamma Mia! The Party’ will finally be making its Manc debut as part of the 10th anniversary of the all-singing, all-dancing and even all-dining in-demand production.
As per an official press release from the Medlock Square media team, the show will combine “live music, theatre, food and storytelling” and “offer visitors an unforgettable night out.”
The original UK production at The O2 in London has now surpassed more than 1,500 performances, with a total of 700k guests attending these shows in 110 countries across the globe. Safe to say it’s rather popular.
As for Medlock Square and the surrounding Etihad Campus, Manchester City supporters have also been given another look at the soon-to-open, immersive hotel tie-in experience.
With a skywalk, rooftop bar, a new MCFC shop and various other bits set to spill out onto Medlock Square, it all feels like a period of wholesale changes over in the blue half of the city – especially with the football club bidding farewell to their manager Pep Guardiola after more than a decade.
Following the new and improved North Stand being named after him in the first of many tributes, the City Football Group (CFG) are also set to commission a statue in his honour over the coming months.
Meanwhile, Medlock Square is also due to open later this year, although an official completion date has not been confirmed.
You can stay up to date with all the latest on Mamma Mia! The Part’s Manchester shows right HERE.
Not forgetting a brand-new women’s football facility, too, there is so much stuff going on over at the Etihad that it can be hard to keep track, but here’s the latest look at some of the rooms set to feature in the hotel of the same name.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (CGIs via Medlock Square)
Theatre
Annie at Palace Theatre Manchester – a charming interpretation of an old classic | Review
Clementine Hall
For a musical built on nostalgia, this Annie that’s just arrived at the Palace Theatre in Manchester feels surprisingly lively – here’s our full review…
Annie is a show tied up with countless childhood memories. Whether you performed it in the school choir, watched the film starring Carol Burnett, or saw it on stage, we’ve all got our own memories of Annie since it first opened in 1977.
So to bring it to a modern theatre audience who no doubt feel some connection to the characters and score is no mean feat.
If you’ve seen any of the posters plastered around the city, you’ll see British drag queen ‘La Voix’ take centre stage as the slippery and gin-fuelled Miss Hannigan.
Images: Press shots (supplied)
This is obviously a strategic move to get bums on seats, and although La Voix is of course a ferocious and standout performer, the production is so much more than that.
They say never to work with children in showbiz, so leading a group of 10-year-old orphans in a snappy and perfectly choreographed rendition of‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’ is really a huge achievement in itself.
All the kids are wonderful, but Victoria Alsina, who plays the titular role, deserves particular credit. It’s a huge role for any actor, never mind a child, and she handles it with confidence, charm, and just the right amount of grit.
As expected, La Voix gets some of the biggest laughs of the night. Her Miss Hannigan leans heavily into the character’s chaos and bitterness, but never feels one-note. It’s a performance packed with quick-fire comedy, and the vocals are tight.
Images: Supplied
That said, Annie would be in trouble if it relied solely on stunt casting. Thankfully, it doesn’t.
The wider cast is consistently strong, the ensemble numbers are full of energy, and the costumes are nothing short of fabulous. The real challenge with Annie is making a story that’s approaching its 50th birthday feel fresh. This production doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to.
Instead, it focuses on delivering the songs people came for, giving the cast room to shine, and reminding audiences why the show has stuck around for so long.
La Voix might get people through the doors, but it’s the strength of the production as a whole that sends them home happy.
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
5th December 2024 
