Photo Flash: WICKED's Elphaba Defies Gravity Dockside at M Shed

WICKED once again cast its spell over Bristol on Tuesday, when Elphaba defied gravity above the Floating Harbour as part of a special launch event at M Shed. Marking the return of the UK & Ireland Tour to The Bristol Hippodrome from 31 January 2018, the stars of the new tour were also introduced, with Amy Ross (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda) and Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero) starring. Check out photos of Elphaba defying gravity over the Floating Harbour below!

Amy Ross (Elphaba) has most recently been starring as 'Nicola' in the hit musical Kinky Boots in the West End. She previously appeared in Sunny Afternoon, playing 'Joyce', at both The Hampstead Theatre and in the West End; Helen Woolf (Glinda) has most recently been appearing in the London production of Wicked and was also part of the original 2013 UK & Ireland Tour company. She has played the role of 'Glinda' on many occasions; Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero) has just finished playing 'Steven Beale' in the BBC's EastEnders, a role he originally played in 2007/08. His many acclaimed musical theatre appearances include Grey Gardens (Southwark Playhouse), American Idiot (Arts Theatre, London) and the leading role of 'Michael Dork' in Loserville The Musical (West Yorkshire Playhouse and in the West End).

WICKED returns to The Bristol Hippodrome for five weeks only from Wednesday 31 January to Saturday 3 March 2018. One of the most successful productions in the venue's history, Wicked was seen by over 70,000 people during its celebrated engagement in February/March 2015.

Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students and their extraordinary adventures in Oz, which will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters originally created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Wicked has become a global phenomenon featuring astounding technical wizardry, stunning costumes, a compelling 'untold' story and show-stopping songs, including the incredible 'Defying Gravity'.

A three-time winner of the theatregoer-voted WhatsOnStage Award for 'Best West End Show' and a two-time winner of the Olivier Audience Award, Wicked played a 15-city tour of the UK & Ireland from September 2013 - July 2015, winning five-star rave reviews at every venue. It resumed touring in July 2016 to embark on a major international tour including engagements in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Shanghai and Beijing. This spectacular production will also play an engagement in Zurich immediately prior to its return to the UK & Ireland.

WICKED is shortly to become the 15th longest running show in West End theatre history and is now in its 12th year at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it continues an open-ended run. Around the world, Wicked has been seen by over 53 million people in 15 countries, and won over 100 major awards.

WICKED has music and lyrics by multi Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Disney's Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted and, for DreamWorks, The Prince of Egypt) and is based on the novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life). Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

WICKED is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK & Ireland) Michael McCabe.

Photo Credit: Dave Betts