London Palladium

The Wizard of Oz musical is a fun, technicolour trip down the yellow brick road

Click your heels and head to the London Palladium in summer 2023 for blockbuster show The Wizard of Oz. A brand new production of the beloved musical flies in from Leicester Curve Theatre, and promises to bring the vibrant world of the MGM film to life on stage. This big-budget musical mixes innovation and nostalgia to create a theatre experience the entire family will delight in.

Featuring iconic songs from the film including “Over The Rainbow”, “Follow The Yellow Brick Road” and “We’re Off To See The Wizard”, The Wizard of Oz musical is the magical story we all know and love. When Dorothy and Toto are swept away from their monochrome life in Kansas and land in colourful Oz, they decide to visit the glittering Emerald City for answers from the mysterious Wizard, accompanied by a Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and foolish Scarecrow. But the Wicked Witch of the West has other plans… will Dorothy make it home safely? 

The Wizard of Oz musical is based on the Oscar-winning classic film, and has all the songs you know and love including “Over The Rainbow”, “If I Only Had a Brain” and Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead”. 

There are also additional songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, bringing an exciting new edge to a story we know and love. Musical theatre impresario Webber and acclaimed lyricist Rice have collaborated on many hit musicals together, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. Their new songs for this magical show include “The Wonders of the World”, “Red Shoes Blues” (for the Wicked Witch of the West) and two songs for the Wizard – “Bring Me the Broomstick” and “Farewell to Oz”,

Their Wizard of Oz musical premiered in 2011 at the London Palladium, and was preceded by a much-hyped search for a new actress in the role of Dorothy in the reality television show Over The Rainbow on BBC One. Danielle Hope won the series and debuted as Dorothy in the world premiere, opposite Michael Crawford as The Wizard and Hannah Waddingham as The Wicked Witch of the West.

This new London Palladium season transfers from a heart-warming Christmas season at Leicester’s Curve Theatre, and is directed by Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (White Christmas). Leicester Curve and Foster have become powerhouses in producing incredible regional theatre which often transfers to London. Their recent successes include a version of Billy Elliot with entirely new choreography, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole musical (directed by Luke Sheppard), and White Christmas.

The cast of The Wizard of Oz musical includes Georgina Onuorah, who steps into the iconic pair of ruby slippers as Dorothy. She played the lead role in Leicester’s Curve’s production in 2022 to great acclaim. Onuorah is joined by comedian Jason Manford as the Cowardly Lion, Diversity’s Ashley Banjo as the Tin Man and West End favourite Gary Wilmot – a Palladium Panto regular – as The Wizard. 

Although best-known as a standup comedian, Manford has appeared in many shows across the UK including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Producers, Guys & Dolls and Curtains, as well as pantomime in Manchester. 

Other casting includes Dianne Pilkington (Beauty and the Beast; Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as The Wicked Witch of the West, Louis Gaunt (Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium; Mary Poppins) as The Scarecrow, and Christina Bianco as Glinda The Good Witch. 

Follow the yellow brick road and enjoy a new version of the timeless classic in London, for a strictly limited season.

Child friendly?

The Wizard of Oz is a family show, with age ratings to be confirmed.