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Synopsis

Follow the yellow brick road over the rainbow and into The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical with Sophie Evans (BBC's smash hit Over The Rainbow) as Dorothy.

Russell Grant plays the role of The Wizard until 20th May 2012 followed by Des O' Connor. Also starring are Edward Baker-Duly (Tin Man), Martin Callaghan (Lion), Paul Keating (Scarecrow), Emily Tierney (Glinda) and Marianne Benedict (The Wicked Witch of the West).
 
Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of The Wizard of Oz is an enchanting adaptation of the all time classic, totally reconceived for the stage by the award-winning creative team that delighted audiences of all ages with their recent London Palladium revival of The Sound of Music.
 
Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay this new production contains all the much-loved songs from the Oscar winning movie score, all the favourite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
 
Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their heart's desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for all the family.

Get your Wizard of Oz tickets now for the biggest theatre event of the year!

Our Review: starstarstar

Michael Coveney - 2 March 2011

Dorothy in dungarees after Garland in gingham? In the new stage version of The Wizard of Oz at the Palladium, TV’s reality show star Danielle Hope slouches around the place like a down home dullsville suddenly transfigured by singing “Over the Rainbow” with a bell-like purity and passion.

Before then, though, she has to sing a superfluous but brilliantly executed song, one of a new few, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber – “Nobody Understands Me” – that sets the stage musical off on a reflective, philosophical tangent to the perfect screen original.

The thing about 16 year-old Judy Garland in the 1939 MGM movie was her headlong, astonishing childish maturity and star quality; 18 year-old Danielle is lovely – and much better than a rather grim-jawed Imelda Staunton in the charmless 1987 RSC stage version – but she’s “acting” a role, not living it, and adjusting her new companions to her own niceness, not discovering their innate qualities. Wha...

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Latest User Review

Stuart - 2 December 2011: starstar

This is the second time I've seen this show. Went on 1st December and it was creaking along like it had been running for twenty years. Nobody seemed to have their heart in it. Lacklustre was the word that came to mind. When I saw this two months ago the performances were crackling and dynamic..last night as wet as the rain outside. Danielle Hope is fairly consistent but she lacks "star quality" for me and I found her Over the Rainbow underpowered. Michael Crawford looked tired and didn't get laughs. Even the Scarecrow and Tin Man found it hard going. The sets won me over again despite there being an unscheduled stop for some sticking scenery, they were still impressive. Business wasn't good and a half full Palladium is a sorry sight and I know for certain many seats were discounted. After the Christmas peak I would be surprised if this show can keep running at these audience levels. Perhaps it will be sorted out at the cast change time in February one way or another. Disappointing overall....

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Cast

Sophie Evans (Dorothy)
Des O'Connor (Wizard)
Marianne Benedict (Wicked Witch of the West)
Edward Baker-Duly (Tin Man)
Martin Callaghan (Lion)
Paul Keating (Scarecrow)
Emily Tierney (Glinda)

Creative

L Frank Baum (Author)
Harold Arlen (Music)
E.Y. Harburg (Music)
Andrew Lloyd Webber (Producer)
Jeremy Sams (Director)
Robert Jones (Design)
Arlene Phillips (Choreographer)

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