Wicked is coming to the Liverpool Empire in 2024

WICKED, "is 1 of the most successful musicals of all time" (BBC News), will fly back into the Liverpool Empire Theatre, from:- Thursday, 20 June to Sunday, 14 July 2024. Tickets will go on public sale from:- Friday, 21 April 2023, at 10am. Sign up to access priority booking at:- ATGTickets.Com.

The West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the:- 'Witches of Oz,' continues its open ended run at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it is already the 12th longest running production in West End history. The spectacular, multi-record breaking, and critically acclaimed touring production returns to the Liverpool Empire for a 3rd engagement, having sold nearly 140,000 tickets across its two celebrated previous engagements in:- 2014 and 2018. The cast will be led by former West End 'Elphaba' Laura Pick, with further casting to be announced.

Laura Pick (Elphaba) was born in Wakefield and trained at Mountview. She made her London stage debut in July 2013, in Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The Sound of Music' at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Her West End journey in Wicked began in 2017, when she was cast as the Standby for:- 'Elphaba.' Laura subsequently assumed the starring role full time, playing:- 'Elphaba' in the West End at more than 350 performances to huge acclaim. Most recently, Laura wowed viewers with a sensational performance of:- 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked on BBC1's 'Big Night of Musicals.' The show is currently available to watch on catch up via BBC iPlayer HERE  

It takes over 100 people on stage and behind the scenes to deliver performances of this award winning touring production of Wicked. Featuring all the celebrated spectacle, magic, technical wizardry, and more than 350 stunning costumes, this production has been acclaimed, in a 5 star review, as:- "every bit the West End show" (The Reviews Hub).

Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's musical, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum's beloved characters from:- 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of 2 unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming:- 'Glinda The Good' and the:- 'Wicked Witch of the West.'

Wicked has now been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide, and 2023 marks the 20th Anniversary of its Broadway premiere. Productions continue on Broadway, in the West End, and on tour across North America. This year, Wicked also returns to Sydney, Australia and Tokyo, Japan.

Wicked has won over 100 major international awards including:- 3 Tony Awards; 6 Drama Desk Awards; 2 Olivier Audience Awards (BBC Radio 2 Audience Award, ITV's This Morning Audience Award); 11 WhatsOnStage Awards (including 3 for:- 'Best West End Show'); 6 Australian Helpmann Awards, and a Grammy.

Wicked features songs by multi Oscar and Grammy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney's Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted). It is based on the multimillion copy best selling novel:- 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominee Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life). Musical staging is by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento with direction by 2 time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman are currently collaborating on the 2 part Universal Pictures film version of Wicked, Directed by:- Jon M. Chu and starring:- Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

Wicked is produced by:- Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK and Ireland) Michael McCabe.

For priority access and information, you can sign up now at:- ATGTickets.Com.

Northern 'singled out' AGAIN for on going mission to improve UK rail industry diversity

THE rail operator Northern has been singled out for praise for the 2nd time this year for its on-going mission to improve the diversity of the UK rail industry. The train operator has been shortlisted for the:- 'Top Employer of the Year' award in the upcoming Women in Rail Awards 2023. The Women in Rail Awards aim to showcase and reward individuals and companies who have made a significant contribution to improving the gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion within the UK rail industry. Northern will find out if it has won the title at a special event on:- Thursday, 18 May 2023.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:- "This is amazing news and comes right on the back of an inspiring Women's History Month here at Northern. In the last few weeks alone, we've seen women at Northern take centre stage in a special exhibition celebrating 'women in uniform' at the Haworth Gallery in Accrington, issued a rallying call asking women 'don't delay, apply today' for various roles across the business; and just last week we released a video showcasing some of the female drivers here at Northern. I'm very proud to champion Northern's work in this area and I'd like to thank everyone at Women in Rail for recognising the efforts of everyone here at Northern that works with me to help deliver 'real and visible' change."

The Women in Rail Awards is attended by a cross section of the UK rail sector, including:- key stakeholders and decision-makers, infrastructure providers, operators, manufacturers, rolling stock companies, technical consultancy companies and suppliers. In January, Northern was also short listed by Northern Power Women, a leading equality campaign group, for the:- 'Large Organisation of the Year' title at its 2023 awards. It was the second year running that Northern was nominated for the award.