“Wicked” Celebrates 20 Years in the West End: Now the Ninth Longest-Running Show in London Theatre History

One of the West End’s most beloved musicals is celebrating its 20th anniversary in London this weekend. “Wicked,” the show that has captivated audiences with the story of the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, adds another record to its list of successes, having won over 100 awards worldwide.

With 20 years on the stage of the Apollo Victoria Theatre, “Wicked” is now the ninth longest-running show in West End history. Ahead of it, among shows still running, are only “The Lion King,” “Mamma Mia!,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Misérables” and, of course, the world’s longest-running show, “The Mousetrap.”

“Wicked” is a reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz,” telling the origin of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good. After meeting at school, the two forge an impossible friendship, until an encounter with the Wizard sets them on different paths. Beyond unforgettable songs like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good,” the show tackles deep themes such as power, prejudice, and the clash between popularity and principles — the reason it has become relevant again in recent years, as Official London Theatre notes.

The stars of this decade are Emma Kingston as Elphaba and Zizi Strallen as Glinda. The anniversary is celebrated on the weekend of September 26, while the show, which plays eight times a week, has extended bookings through May 30, 2027. For this historic moment, London Theatre Guide has for the first time published two different versions of the magazine — one for Elphaba and one for Glinda.

This anniversary comes in a special year for “Wicked”: the current London cast closed this year’s 50th Olivier Awards ceremony, while the second part of the Hollywood film adaptation, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has added a new wave of interest in the music of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman.