This is London Magazine April Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 6
WICKED MAKES HISTORY AT
APOLLO VICTORIA
WICKED, the West End stage musical
phenomenon that tells the incredible
untold story of the Witches of Oz,
became the ninth longest-running
production in West End history last
autumn. With this milestone, Wicked
also surpassed the original London run
of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight
Express, which previously held the title
of longest-running production at
Wicked’s West End home, the Apollo
Victoria Theatre.
The ten longest-running West End
stage productions in British history are:
The Mousetrap, Les Misérables, The
Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in
Black, Mamma Mia!, Blood Brothers,
The Lion King, Cats, Wicked and
Starlight Express.
Stephen Schwartz and Winnie
Holzman’s celebrated stage musical is
based on the acclaimed novel by
Gregory Maguire and imagines a
beguiling backstory and future
possibilities to the lives of L. Frank
Baum’s beloved characters from The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Wicked reveals
the decisions and events that shape the
destinies of two unlikely university
friends on their journey to becoming
‘Glinda The Good’ and the ‘Wicked Witch
of the West’.
THE OLIVIER AWARDS 2026 WITH
CUNARD
The Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard
celebrate the very best of London theatre
and are Britain’s most prestigious stage
honours. This year marks the 50th
anniversary of the awards – a milestone
recognising five decades of world-class
performance – and will take place at the
Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 12 April.
While you’re in London, don’t miss
the chance to see the shows everyone’s
talking about. Tickets are available now
on OfficialLondonTheatre.com so you
can experience the magic of the West
End for yourself. From the fantastic
adventures of Paddington The Musical
to the enchanting revival of Into The
Woods, these productions are creating a
buzz across the West End and beyond.
Audiences can also discover bold
new plays like 1536 and Inter Alia,
laugh-out-loud comedy with Oh, Mary!,
and thrilling stage storytelling in
Paranormal Activity. Whether you’re in
the mood for a spectacular musical like
The Producers, a moving journey with
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,
or a theatre trip with the family to The
Boy at the Back of the Class, these
Olivier-nominated shows are some of
the hottest tickets in town. Past awardwinning hits like Wicked, Hamilton,
Cabaret, Stranger Things: The First
Shadow and many more are also
available on the Official London Theatre
website.
Don’t just hear about the awards –
see the shows live. Book your tickets
today and be part of the excitement
before the winners are revealed on
BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Sunday
12 April, hosted by double Emmynominated actor, comedian, writer, and
Celebrity Traitors finalist Nick
Mohammed.
With the West End alive with
unforgettable performances, star-studded
casts, and dazzling sets, this is the
perfect opportunity to celebrate five
decades of theatrical brilliance and
witness the talent that continues to
shape London theatre.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
Photo: Pamela Raith Photography.
Zizzi Strallen as Glinda.
Photo: Matt Crockett
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