The Wizard Of Oz
Enjoy a trip to the merry old land of Oz for the London Palladium’s blockbuster summer show The Wizard of Oz. The classic MGM film becomes a spectacular technicolour musical in this acclaimed Leicester Curve production, directed by Nikolai Foster and featuring original songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - alongside familiar melodies including “Over The Rainbow” and “We’re Off To See The Wizard”. Follow Dorothy and Toto as they travel up the yellow brick road and have an unforgettable adventure that the whole family will love in this strictly limited season in 2023.
Box Office Contacts
| Box Office: | +44 (0) 20 7087 7747 |
| Access Booking: | +44 (0) 20 7087 7966 |
| Group Booking: | 0844 412 4655 |
| Stage Door: | 020 7850 8770 |
History
Built on the site of a 19th century circus and ice-skating rink, the London Palladium first opened on Boxing Day in 1910 and is well-known for being London's best venue for variety entertainment. In the venue's early years, performances show twice nightly, along with three matinees and a bill including operettas, melodramas, farces and variety turns from famous individuals.
During World War II, the Palladium continued to operate. When an unexploded German mine became stuck above the stage, it was a narrow escape for the building, as the Royal Navy managed to dispose of the bomb.
The London Palladium continues as the regular host of the Royal Variety Performance, after hosting the event around 11 times throughout the 1930's and 40's. Owned by LW Theatres (formerly Really Useful Group), the theatre is also a yearly home to a series of large musicals. In 1945, Val Parnell was appointed Managing Director, presenting big American acts such as Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Liza Minnelli, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
In 1955, the venue introduced Sunday Night at the Palladium, which was broadcast across the UK and continues in on-off performances to this day. The London Palladium's first book musical was Golden Boy (1968), starring Sammy Davis Jr, which paved the way for an endless stream of musical theatre.
When RUG obtained the theatre management in 2000, musicals including The King And I (2000), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002), Scrooge the Musical (2005, 2006 and 2012), The Sound of Music (2006) and Sister Act (2009) played on the stage.
Following a country-wide search for Dorothy, Andrew Lloyd Webber brought The Wizard of Oz (2012) to the stage, starring Danielle Hope as the lucky Dorothy and theatre veteran Michael Crawford. Scrooge the Musical returned in 2013, starring Tommy Steele, followed by an acclaimed West End revival of smash-hit musical A Chorus Line (2013), The Amazing Bubble Man (2014), Barry Humphries' farewell tour Eat, Pray, Laugh! (2014), Harry Hill's flop X Factor musical I Can't Sing (2014), starring a then-unknown Cynthia Erivo and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games (2014).
Cats was revived at the London Palladium in 2015, starring Nicole Scherzinger, followed by Beyond Bollywood (2015), Sinatra (2015) and another revival of Cats (2015-2016), starring Beverley Knight. A new cast starred in Whose Line is it Anyway in 2016, whilst one-off concerts played throughout the year. The end of 2016 saw the London Palladium host the first West End pantomime for over three decades. Cinderella starred Natasha J Barnes, Amanda Holden, Paul O'Grady, Julian Clary, Lee Mead and more.
In 2017, the venue continued to play one-off concerts from a variety of musicians and comedians, with Stiles and Drewes' smash-hit production The Wind in the Willows transferring to the venue in the summer, starring Rufus Hound. Pantomime returned at the end of 2017 with a brand new production of Dick Whittington.
2018 saw Broadway's acclaimed production of The King and I transfer to the London Palladium, starring Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara. Pantomime also returned: Snow White starred Dawn French.
In 2019, ballet star Sergei Polunin presents a new mixed programme at the venue. Over the summer, the Palladium will host the 50th Anniversary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber favourite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Sheridan Smith and Jason Donovan star, alongside newcomer Jac Yarrow in the title role. In September, Stephen Fry presents his Mythos trilogy.
The Palladium pantomime returned at the end of 2019. Goldilocks and the Three Bears starred Julian Clary, Paul O'Grady, and Matt Baker.
The acclaimed new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was revived in summer 2021, with Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan reprising their roles and Alexandra Burke taking to the stage as the Narrator.
Disney brought its spectacular new production of Beauty and the Beast to the theatre in summer 2022, following a triumphant UK and Ireland tour. Over the festive period, pantomime returned to the Palladium with a star-studded production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
In summer 2023, the big blockbuster musical at the Palladium is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's The Wizard of Oz.
During World War II, the Palladium continued to operate. When an unexploded German mine became stuck above the stage, it was a narrow escape for the building, as the Royal Navy managed to dispose of the bomb.
The London Palladium continues as the regular host of the Royal Variety Performance, after hosting the event around 11 times throughout the 1930's and 40's. Owned by LW Theatres (formerly Really Useful Group), the theatre is also a yearly home to a series of large musicals. In 1945, Val Parnell was appointed Managing Director, presenting big American acts such as Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Liza Minnelli, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
In 1955, the venue introduced Sunday Night at the Palladium, which was broadcast across the UK and continues in on-off performances to this day. The London Palladium's first book musical was Golden Boy (1968), starring Sammy Davis Jr, which paved the way for an endless stream of musical theatre.
When RUG obtained the theatre management in 2000, musicals including The King And I (2000), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002), Scrooge the Musical (2005, 2006 and 2012), The Sound of Music (2006) and Sister Act (2009) played on the stage.
Following a country-wide search for Dorothy, Andrew Lloyd Webber brought The Wizard of Oz (2012) to the stage, starring Danielle Hope as the lucky Dorothy and theatre veteran Michael Crawford. Scrooge the Musical returned in 2013, starring Tommy Steele, followed by an acclaimed West End revival of smash-hit musical A Chorus Line (2013), The Amazing Bubble Man (2014), Barry Humphries' farewell tour Eat, Pray, Laugh! (2014), Harry Hill's flop X Factor musical I Can't Sing (2014), starring a then-unknown Cynthia Erivo and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games (2014).
Cats was revived at the London Palladium in 2015, starring Nicole Scherzinger, followed by Beyond Bollywood (2015), Sinatra (2015) and another revival of Cats (2015-2016), starring Beverley Knight. A new cast starred in Whose Line is it Anyway in 2016, whilst one-off concerts played throughout the year. The end of 2016 saw the London Palladium host the first West End pantomime for over three decades. Cinderella starred Natasha J Barnes, Amanda Holden, Paul O'Grady, Julian Clary, Lee Mead and more.
In 2017, the venue continued to play one-off concerts from a variety of musicians and comedians, with Stiles and Drewes' smash-hit production The Wind in the Willows transferring to the venue in the summer, starring Rufus Hound. Pantomime returned at the end of 2017 with a brand new production of Dick Whittington.
2018 saw Broadway's acclaimed production of The King and I transfer to the London Palladium, starring Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara. Pantomime also returned: Snow White starred Dawn French.
In 2019, ballet star Sergei Polunin presents a new mixed programme at the venue. Over the summer, the Palladium will host the 50th Anniversary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber favourite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Sheridan Smith and Jason Donovan star, alongside newcomer Jac Yarrow in the title role. In September, Stephen Fry presents his Mythos trilogy.
The Palladium pantomime returned at the end of 2019. Goldilocks and the Three Bears starred Julian Clary, Paul O'Grady, and Matt Baker.
The acclaimed new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was revived in summer 2021, with Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan reprising their roles and Alexandra Burke taking to the stage as the Narrator.
Disney brought its spectacular new production of Beauty and the Beast to the theatre in summer 2022, following a triumphant UK and Ireland tour. Over the festive period, pantomime returned to the Palladium with a star-studded production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
In summer 2023, the big blockbuster musical at the Palladium is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's The Wizard of Oz.
