The Wizard of Oz announces full cast for UK and Ireland tour

The UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard of Oz is set to commence rehearsals today – and has revealed complete casting for its forthcoming run.

Produced by Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group, the tour will kick off at the Liverpool Empire on 13 December 2024, and run until 7 January 2024.

The recently announced cast includes JLS star Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man (Liverpool only), Craig Revel Horwood and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West, and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard for select dates.

It has now been revealed that Jason Manford will reprise his role as the Cowardly Lion in Manchester only. Other principal cast members appearing during the tour include Aviva Tulley (The Book of Mormon) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (Jersey Boys) as The Scarecrow, Nic Greenshields (Les Misérables) as The Cowardly Lion and Emily Bull (9 to 5) as Glinda the Good Witch. Abigail Matthews (War Horse) will portray Toto. Allan Stewart (Stones in His Pockets) and Alex Bourne (Annie) will play The Wizard for select dates.

The company 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.

It received a glowing review at The London Palladium from WhatsOnStage, being described as “sheer theatrical wizardry and far too good to miss.” The show will continue post-Liverpool to visit Oxford, Southampton, Hull, Sheffield, Canterbury, Edinburgh, Southend, Norwich, Llandudno, Bradford, Plymouth, Bristol, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Woking, Belfast, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Wolverhampton and Sunderland.

Directed by Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot The Musical, A Chorus Line), The Wizard of Ozhas choreography by Shay Barclay, set design by Colin Richmond, projection design by Douglas O’Connell, costume and puppet design by Rachael Canning, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Adam Fisher, creative consultancy by Mark Kaufman, musical direction and supervision by George Dyer, casting by Debbie O’Brien, props supervision by Marcus Hall Props, and wigs, hair and make-up design by Elizabeth Marini.