Harriet Thorpe is Morrible in West End 'Wicked' April 14

Harriet Thorpe is to star as 'Madame Morrible' in the smash hit musical Wicked at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre from Monday April 14, 2008.

From early television success in the BBC's hugely popular comedy series "The Brittas Empire," where she famously played the receptionist whose children lived under the counter, to her recent highly acclaimed performance as 'Mrs Lovett' in the national tour of Sweeney Todd opposite Jason Donovan, Harriet Thorpe is one the UK's most popular and successful actors. She has enjoyed a long-standing association with Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, starring with them in Girls on Top; French & Saunders (numerous appearances including the 'Countess of Hertzegovina' in The House of Idiot and 'Molly Brown' in their version of Titanic); Absolutely Fabulous, where she and Helen Lederer played Patsy's colleagues 'Fleur' and 'Catriona' respectively; two episodes of "Murder Most Horrid" and, most recently, as journalist 'Janey Evans' in "The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle." Her prolific stage career has included working with the directors Richard Eyre, David Hare, John Doyle, John Caird, Peter Gill, Howard Davies, Michael Attenborough, Rachel Kavanagh, Timothy Sheader and Rufus Norris. Her numerous film appearances include the wonderfully haughty head of the W.I. in Calendar Girls and she has just completed filming The Calling with Brenda Blethyn and S.N.U.B. with Gary Mavers.

Susie Blake will play her final performance as 'Madame Morrible' on Saturday April 12, 2008.

Wicked, the award-winning, record-breaking hit musical has now been seen by over a million theatregoers since its London premiere in September 2006, taking over £40 million at the Box Office to date. The production has also recouped its entire original capitalisation. Booking has recently been extended again and tickets are currently on sale until April 2009.

Wicked currently stars Kerry Ellis as Elphaba, Dianne Pilkington as Glinda, Oliver Tompsett as Fiyero, Susie Blake as Madame Morrible (until 12 April 2008) and Nigel Planer as The Wizard. Cast subject to change from 9 June 2008.

Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Joe Mantello. It is based on the novel, Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire.

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Wicked plays at Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG, now booking through April 4, 2009

Box Office and 24 Hour Credit Card Bookings: Ticketmaster 0844 826 8000 (up to £2.00 per ticket service charge and £2.25 processing fee per transaction). No booking fee or processing charges for tickets booked in person at the Box Office. Group Sales (12 or more): Ticketmaster 0844 844 2121

Performances are: Monday-Saturday 7:30PM; Matinees Wednesday & Saturday 2:30PM. Running time: 2 hours and 50 minutes including a 20 minute interval.  Extra matinee performance:  Thursday 29 May 2008 at 2:30PM

Ticket prices:  £15-£60. Day Seats: £25 – twenty four front row Stalls released daily at 10.00am at the Box Office.

Students: Best available seats £25 from 10.00am at Monday-Friday 7.30pm and Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm at the Box Office with student ID. Subject to availability. One ticket per ID.

Standby Concessions: Best available seats £25 from 6pm at Monday-Friday 7.30pm performances and from 12 noon at Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm performances at the Box Office for Senior Citizens, Jobseekers, Equity, BECTU and MU members and registered disabled. Subject to availability. One ticket per ID.

Harriet Thorpe

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