David Witts is WICKED's New Fiyero

WICKED, the "spellbinding smash hit" (Time Out London) that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is delighted to announce that former EastEnders star David Witts is returning from three years in L.A. to make his West End debut as 'Fiyero' from Monday 23 July 2018.

David Witts (Fiyero) starred as 'Joey Branning' in the BBC serial drama EastEnders, for which he won 'Best Newcomer' at the 2013 National Television Awards. He also won an Inside Soap Award and was nominated for a British Soap Award. For American television, he has most recently been a series regular in Recovery Road (for ABC/Freeform) and I Ship It (for the CW Network). He also completed filming An Unpleasant Surprise, written and directed by James Furlong and Pride and Prejudice, Cut, directed by Michael Kampa. On stage, he starred as 'Link Larkin' in the hit musical Hairspray at Leicester Curve Theatre. David trained at the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre.

David Witts said: "After three amazing years living and working in Los Angeles, I am excited to be getting back on stage again and to be coming home to make my West End debut in the incredible musical Wicked. I can't wait to start rehearsals and to join everyone at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from 23 July".

Michael McCabe, Executive Producer (UK) of WICKED said: "We are delighted that David Witts is returning to the UK to star as Fiyero in Wicked. David has proved himself to be an accomplished and popular actor on both stage and screen since his award-winning debut as 'Joey Branning' in EastEnders back in 2012, and he has all the qualities to be a fantastic Fiyero".

Bradley Jaden will play his final performance as 'Fiyero' on Saturday 21 July 2018. Further casting to be announced.

WICKED currently stars Alice Fearn (Elphaba), Sophie Evans (Glinda), Bradley Jaden (Fiyero), Melanie La Barrie (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Sarah McNicholas (Nessarose), Jack Lansbury (Boq), Laura Pick (Standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie & Maria Coyne* (Standby for Glinda).

Cast subject to change from Monday 23 July 2018. *Maternity cover

For more information, visit https://www.theapollovictoria.com/.

Acclaimed as "a thrilling theatrical experience with brains, heart and courage" (Metro) and "one of the most successful West End shows ever" (Radio Times), WICKED is already the 15th longest running show in West End theatre history and has now been seen by more than 9 million people in London alone. Around the world, "the gravity-defying Wizard of Oz prequel" (Time Out) has won over 100 major awards, including ten theatregoer-voted WhatsOnStage Awards (winning 'Best West End Show' on three occasions) and two Olivier Audience Awards in the UK.

WICKED is also presently on a year-long tour of the UK & Ireland and opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 8 May 2018. The record-breaking tour will subsequently visit Leeds, Dublin, Sunderland, Southampton, Cardiff and, for Christmas 2018/19, a final return to the Palace Theatre in Manchester (where the acclaimed tour originally premiered in September 2013 and will conclude on 5 January 2019).

Based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

WICKED has music and lyrics by multi Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell; Disney's Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted; DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt) and is based on the best-selling novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life). Music arrangements are by Tony Award-winners Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton) and Stephen Oremus (Disney's Frozen). Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

WICKED is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

Through its FOR GOOD programme, WICKED is proud to support the remarkable work of the following UK charities: Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA); Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSH Charity), the National Literacy Trust and the Woodland Trust. Further information can be found at www.WickedForGood.co.uk

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