Wicked’s witches cast Empire spell
ACTORS who have helped propel Wicked to West End success will be casting a spell in Sunderland when the show makes its Wearside debut.
Ashleigh Gray and Emily Tierney, who have played sorcery students Elphaba and Glinda in London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, will don their witch’s hats to play the roles at the Sunderland Empire.
The show, the tenth longestrunning in the West End, will light up the Sunderland stage for four weeks next spring.
Michael McCabe, UK executive producer of Wicked, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing this spectacular version of Wicked to Sunderland. This recordbreaking national touring production has received incredible acclaim around the country and I’m delighted to confirm that a brilliant cast, led by Ashleigh Gray and Emily Tierney, will be coming to the wonderful Sunderland Empire theatre.”
The stage show is a witty re- imagining of characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and tells of the unlikely friendship between two sorcery students, Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Around the world, Wicked has already been seen by 42 million people in 13 countries and has won 100 international awards.
General manager of the Sunderland Empire, Ben Phillips, said: “Audiences will be left spellbound when this global phenomenon visits the Sunderland Empire for the first and only time in the North East in 2015.”
Wicked will be at the Sunderland Empire from March 31 to April 25. Tickets, priced from £ 20 to £ 55, are available in person from the Sunderland Empire box office, on Tel. 0844 871 3022 and online from www. atgtickets. com/ sunderland.