Craig Revel Horwood, The Vivienne, and Gary Wilmot Join UK Tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ at Select Dates
Craig Revel Horwood, The Vivienne, and Gary Wilmot set to star in The Wizard of Oz UK and Ireland Tour at select dates
By: Stephi Wild Oct. 10, 2023
Strictly Come Dancing's longest-standing judge, Craig Revel Horwood, and RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Ice finalist, The Vivienne will both play The Wicked Witch of the West in the upcoming tour of The Wizard of Oz. Gary Wilmot will reprise his West End role as The Wizard following a celebrated run at the world-famous London Palladium. The new musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, tours the UK and Ireland throughout 2023-2024 where the trio will play select dates.
To book tickets and for information about specific casting at all UK and Ireland tour venues, go to www.wizardofozmusical.com. Further casting is to be announced for all dates.
Craig Revel Horwood will perform as The Wicked Witch of the West at New Victoria Theatre, Woking; Grand Opera House, Belfast; Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham; King's Theatre, Glasgow; His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen; Milton Keynes Theatre; Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff.
The Vivienne will appear in a previously announced Christmas season at the Liverpool Empire* as The Wicked Witch of the West before touring to New Theatre, Oxford; Mayflower Theatre, Southampton; New Theatre, Hull; Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield; Theatre Royal, Plymouth; Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol; Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Theatre Royal, Newcastle; Palace Theatre, Manchester; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton and the Empire Theatre, Sunderland
The Vivienne will be joined by Gary Wilmot as The Wizard at the following dates: Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury; Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh; Cliffs Pavilion Southend; Theatre Royal, Norwich; Venue Cymru, Llandudno; and the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford.
*Aston Merrygold will perform as The Tin Man in Liverpool.
Join Dorothy, Toto and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz.
Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We're Off To See the Wizard - with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - this spectacular production will be a truly magical experience for all the family.
Craig Revel Horwood says: “I am super excited about taking on the iconic role of The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. She's mean, green and wants those shoes! Aquaphobic and fab-u-lous…here I come!”
The Vivienne adds: “It is quite literally a dream come true to be asked to play The Wicked Witch of the West and to bring this amazing character to life. The Wizard of Oz means everything to me, it's the ultimate story of overcoming adversity. I first saw the movie aged five and I've probably seen it about 100 times since. I played The Tin Man at primary school and got to skate to ‘Over The Rainbow' on Dancing on Ice so it's fair to say I've had a life-long love affair with the story. Your favourite characters are all there, telling the story you know and love … but with SO much more added to this new production. Prepare to be whisked into an amazing new world of colour.”
Gary Wilmot, who reprises his London Palladium role as The Wizard continues: ”I am delighted to revisit a role so wonderful, it's in the name! Performing as The (wonderful) Wizard in a smash-hit season at the London Palladium was truly a magical experience and I can't wait to share that with venues around the country next year.”
Craig Revel Horwood is a household name having appeared as a Judge on all 21 series of the hit BBC1 entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. He also both directs and appears in the annual Strictly Come Dancing Live arena tour. He created the touring show Strictly Confidential, was Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars New Zealand and is currently Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars Australia.
Craig started his career as a performer in musical theatre in his home country of Australia, moving to London to appear in many West End musicals including Miss Saigon and Crazy for You. After many years, he returned to the West End starring as Miss Hannigan in Annie, which he also twice successfully toured around the UK. He has starred in pantomime every year with roles including the Wicked Queen in Snow White, Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella.
In 2012 Craig won the BBC2 series Maestro at the Opera, the final of which saw him conduct Act 2 of La Boheme at the Royal Opera House. He has also won Celebrity Masterchef and discovered his Australian roots in Who Do You Think You Are. In Summer 2021 Craig was seen travelling the UK with fellow Strictly Judge Bruno Tonioli on the ITV primetime show Craig and Bruno's Great British Road Trips and was revealed as ‘Knickerbocker Glory' on ITV's The Masked Dancer, reaching the semi-final. In 2022 Craig toured the UK in his solo show All Balls and Glitter and in 2023 Craig reprised the role of Miss Hannigan in the UK Tour of Annie. This Christmas, Craig will be playing the ‘Wicked Stepmother' in Cinderella at the Wimbledon Theatre. Craig has three volumes of memoirs published, and his debut novel ‘Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street' was published in 2020. For Craig's full biography please click HERE
The Vivienne is without doubt the UK's No.1 drag superstar, after emerging as the original champion of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Since then, she has become a huge star both in the UK and internationally appearing on TV regularly and releasing music for fans across the globe. 2022 saw The Vivienne's TV career go global when she appeared on 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars All Winners' on US TV.
2023 saw The Vivienne make history as the first drag star to appear on a major UK reality competition series, competing in 'Dancing On Ice' on ITV. Viv made it all the way through the Top 3, with breathtaking performances in the final. 2023 also saw The Vivienne become the face and voice of the BBC's Eurovision Song Contest trailers.
In addition, she performed 'Waterloo' at the massive Eurovision opening ceremony in Liverpool city centre. Please click HERE for The Vivienne's full biography.
Gary Wilmot has starred in a string of television series making him a household name as a comic-actor and singer. He has been a subject of This is Your Life, hosted the Laurence Olivier awards and won a TMA best actor nomination in his musical theatre debut as Bill Snibson in Me And My Girl.
His many theatre credits include The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium), The Wizard in Wicked (Apollo Theatre), Jethro in Prince of Egypt (The Dominion) and Badger in The Wind in the Willows (The London Palladium).
Gary's star turn in the Christmas London Palladium Pantomime – which includes as Queen Nigella in Jack & The Beanstalk, Dame Gary in Pantoland at The Palladium, Mrs Crumble in Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs and Sarah The Cook in Dick Whittington - has cemented his place as one of the legends of the iconic theatre. This year, he appears at the world-famous venue as Mrs. Henrietta Hook in Peter Pan. Please click HERE for Gary Wilmot's full biography
Directed by Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot The Musical, A Chorus Line) The Wizard of Oz has choreography by Shay Barclay, Set Designer is Colin Richmond, Projection Designer is Douglas O'Connell, Costume and Puppet Designer is Rachael Canning, Lighting Designer is Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer is Adam Fisher, Creative Consultant is Mark Kaufman, Musical Supervisor is George Dyer, casting by Debbie O'Brien, Props Supervisor is Marcus Hall Props, and Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer is Elizabeth Marini.
The Wizard of Oz on tour is presented Michael Harrison, Gavin Kalin Productions, David Mirvish, Crossroads Live, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Nick Thomas, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Jake Hine and Playing Field, by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd.
Tour Dates
13 Dec 2023 – Sun 7 Jan 2024
Empire Theatre, Liverpool www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/liverpool-empire/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man.
10 – 14 Jan 2024
New Theatre, Oxford www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/new-theatre-oxford/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
16 –21 Jan 2024
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/wizard-of-oz-2024 ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
24 – 27 Jan 2024
New Theatre, Hull www.hulltheatres.co.uk/events/wizard-oz
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
30 Jan – 3 Feb 2024
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/the-wizard-of-oz
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
6 - 11 Feb 2024
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury www.marlowetheatre.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard
13 – 17 Feb 2024
Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/edinburgh-playhouse/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard
20 – 25 Feb 2024
Cliffs Pavilion Southend www.southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/tickets-the-wizard-of-oz-southend-2023
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard
27 Feb – 3 March 2024
Theatre Royal, Norwich www.norwichtheatre.org/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard
5 – 10 March 2024
Venue Cymru, Llandudno www.venuecymru.co.uk/cy/wizard-oz-0
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard
19 – 23 March 2024
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard
26 – 30 March 2024
Theatre Royal, Plymouth www.theatreroyal.com/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz-2024/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
2 – 7 April 2024
Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
9 – 13 April 2024
Theatre Royal, Nottingham www.trch.co.uk/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz-2024/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
16 – 21 April 2024
Theatre Royal, Newcastle www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/wizard-of-oz/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
24 Apr – 5 May 2024
Palace Theatre, Manchester www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/palace-theatre-manchester/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
7 – 12 May 2024
New Victoria Theatre, Woking www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/new-victoria-theatre/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
21 – 26 May 2024
Grand Opera House, Belfast www.goh.co.uk/?s=wizard+of+oz
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
28 May - 8 Jun 2024
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/show/wizard-of-oz/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
11 – 16 June 2024
Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/the-wizard-of-oz /
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
2 - 7 Jul 2024
King's Theatre, Glasgow
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
9 - 13 Jul 2024
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz-3/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
16 Jul – 21 Jul 2024
Milton Keynes Theatre www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
23 - 28 Jul 2024
Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2024/wizard-of-oz
ANNOUNCED CASTING: Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West
30 Jul - 4 Aug 2024
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
6 - 11 Aug 2024
Empire Theatre, Sunderland https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/sunderland-empire/
ANNOUNCED CASTING: The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West
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