WICKED, the record-breaking hit West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, proudly welcomes back Harriet Thorpe to the role of ‘Madame Morrible’ from Monday 22 April until Saturday 16 November 2013. Louise Plowright has withdrawn from the role due to ill health and the entire company wish her a full and speedy recovery.
Harriet Thorpe previously played ‘Madame Morrible’ to enormous acclaim from April 2008 until March 2010. She has enjoyed a long-standing association with Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, appearing in multiple episodes of French & Saunders; Murder Most Horrid; The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle and she has played the role of ‘Fleur’ in Absolutely Fabulous since 1992. Also on television, Harriet starred in all 52 episodes of the hugely popular comedy series The Brittas Empire as Receptionist ‘Carole’. On stage, Harriet most recently starred as ‘Frauline Kost’ in Rufus Norris’s acclaimed production of Cabaret at the Savoy Theatre, a role she previously played at the Lyric Theatre in 2006. She also starred in Crazy For You at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park and at the Novello Theatre and played Tanya in Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Wicked currently stars Louise Dearman (Elphaba), Gina Beck (Glinda), Ben Freeman (Fiyero), Harriet Thorpe (Madame Morrible from 22 April 2013), Keith Bartlett (The Wizard), Christopher Howell (Doctor Dillamond), Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Hayley Gallivan (Standby Elphaba) and Lucy van Gasse (Standby Glinda). Cast subject to change from 18 November 2013.
Seen by over 5 million people and recently acclaimed as “one of the most popular West End musicals ever" (Evening Standard), the Olivier Award-winning London production of the global musical phenomenon is already the 16th longest-running West End musical of all time. While continuing its open-ended run at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre (where tickets are currently on sale until 26 April 2014) a major new production will tour the UK and Ireland, opening at Manchester’s Palace Theatre in September 2013.
Based on the 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.