Final tickets on sale for the critically acclaimed The Wizard of Oz

The Edinburgh Playhouse tonight welcomes the cast of The Wizard of Oz for a week-long run at the UK’s largest all-seated theatre, where a staggering 21,000 audience members have already booked.

Article Source: ATG
Last Updated: 13 February 2024 15:05

The Edinburgh Playhouse tonight welcomes the cast of The Wizard of Oz for a week-long run at the UK’s largest all-seated theatre, where a staggering 21,000 audience members have already booked to see the show this half term. The new musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, tours the UK and Ireland throughout 2024, following a celebrated run at the world-famous London Palladium and plays 8 performances only in Edinburgh from Tue 13 – Sat 17 February. Starring The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard, the few remaining tickets for the most magical show in the city this week can be purchased HERE.

Producer Michael Harrison says of the show’s success in Edinburgh:“ It has been joyful to see such an incredible reaction to this magical new tour of The Wizard of Oz and we are absolutely delighted that over 21,000 theatre fans have already booked to see the show in Edinburgh this half term. With Gary Wilmot reprising his London Palladium role as The Wizard, The Vivienne giving a show-stopping Wicked Witch of the West and the glorious vocals of Aviva Tulley as Dorothy, audience members are in for a real treat. Our friends at the Edinburgh Playhouse are incredible hosts and we know that the warmest welcome awaits!”

Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre Director, Gordon Millar, added: “We’re delighted that so many people are choosing to spend their February break in the company of Dorothy and the wonderful Wizard of Oz. This is a stand-out example of the thrilling productions we present all year round for audiences at the Edinburgh Playhouse”.

Principle casting at the Edinburgh Playhouse features RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Ice finalist, The Vivienne who will play The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot, who reprises his role as The Wizard - following a smash-hit season at the London Palladium this summer - principal casting is completed by Aviva Tulley (Book of Mormon, UK Tour) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (ITV’s Emmerdale; Jersey Boys, West End) as The Scarecrow, Marley Fenton (The Wizard of Oz, West End; Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, West End) as The Tin Man, Nic Greenshields (Love Never Dies West End; Les Misérables West End, International Tour) as The Cowardly Lion, Emily Bull (9 to 5, UK Tour; Matilda UK Tour) as Glinda The Good Witch and Abigail Matthews as Toto (Bleak Expectations, West End; War Horse, West End).

Please note: The show tours to Glasgow and Aberdeen in July 2024 – The Vivienne and Gary Wilmot do not star at these dates. For full casting at these venues, please see www.wizardofozmusical.com

The cast is completed by David Burrows, Adam Craig, Cole Dunn, Tyler Ephraim, Olivia Kate Holding, Thomas Kalek, Sadie Levett, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Martin McCarthy, Rose Ouellette, Fanja Parent, Alexandra Regan, Nathan Routledge and Sydney Spencer.

Aviva Tulley (Dorothy): Aviva trained at The Brit School and Arts Educational School, London. Recent roles include Erzulie in Once On This Island (Southwark Playhouse) and in concert, Roles We’ll Never Play (Turbine Theatre). She played Nabulungi in the 2022 UK Tour of The Book of Mormon to celebrated reviews.

Benjamin Yates (The Scarecrow): Television credits include: Olly in Emmerdale (ITV). Theatre credits include: Jersey Boys (West End); School of Rock (West End); Wicked (UK Tour); Wonderland (UK Tour); West Side Story (Kilworth House); Cats (London Palladium, UK and European Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena Tour); The Who’s Tommy (Blackpool Winter Gardens); Grease (Ljubljana Festival).

Marley Fenton (The Tin Man): Marley trained at The Arts Educational School where he graduated in 2023, having received the Ian Fleming Award 2022. The London Palladium season of The Wizard of Oz last summer marked Marley’s professional and West End debut. Most recently, Marley has appeared in Cameron Mackintosh’s Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Gielgud Theatre.

Nic Greenshields (The Cowardly Lion): Theatre Credits Include: Love Never Dies (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Les Misérables (International Tour); Les Misérables - The Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre); Young Frankenstein (Garrick Theatre); Guys And Dolls (Savoy/Phoenix Theatre); Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace); The Phantom Of The Opera (His Majesties Theatre); Into The Woods (Royal Opera House); Wonderful Town (Royal Exchange); The Beautiful Game (Cambridge Theatre); Les Misérables (Palace/Queens Theatre); Lautrec (Shaftesbury Theatre); Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Oklahoma (UK Tour); Beauty And The Beast (International Tour); Cats (International Tour). Directing Credits: Resident Director, School Of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre) Assistant Director, The Railway Children (Kings Cross Theatre).

Emily Bull (Glinda The Good Witch): For Tonight (Adelphi Theatre); 9 to 5 (UK Tour & South Korea); Matilda (UK Tour); Mary Poppins (International tour); Sunset Boulevard (London Coliseum); The Station Master (Tristan Bates Theatre); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Royal Festival Hall); Cabaret (UK Tour); Sweeney Todd (Adelphi Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre); Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre) and Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).

Abigail Matthews (Toto): Bleak Expectations (Criterion Theatre, West End); Bye Bye Birdie (Rose and Crown, Offie Nominated for Best Supporting Actress); War Horse (Gillian Lynne Theatre); A Winter’s Tale & The Hired Man (Landor Theatre, Offie Nominated for Best Supporting Actress); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (360° Theatre, Kensington Gardens); Evita (UK & European Tour).

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.

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, Nick Thomas, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Jake Hine and Playing Field, by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd.

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