-- Full casting for the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard of Oz announced --
Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are thrilled to announce final casting for the UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard of Oz which has now started rehearsals. The new musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, tours the UK and Ireland throughout 2024, following a celebrated run at the world-famous London Palladium. As part of the tour the show will come to Theatre Royal Plymouth. playing 26th – 30th March 2024. Head to https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz-2024/ to grab your tickets.
Image from the London Palladium production
Joining previously announced RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Ice finalist, The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West , the principal company is completed by Aviva Tulley (Book of Mormon, UK Tour) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (ITV’s Emmerdale; Jersey Boys, West End) as The Scarecrow, Nic Greenshields (Love Never Dies West End; Les Misérables West End, International Tour) as The Cowardly Lion, Alex Bourne (Annie, West End, UK Tour, Toronto; Hairspray, UK Tour) as The Wizard, Emily Bull (9 to 5, UK Tour; Matilda UK Tour) as Glinda The Good Witch and Abigail Matthews as Toto (Bleak Expectations, West End; War Horse, West End).
The cast is completed David Burrows, Adam Craig, Cole Dunn, Tyler Ephraim, Olivia Kate Holding, Thomas Kalek, Sadie Levett, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Martin McCarthy, Rose Ouellette, Fanja Parent, Alexandra Regan, Nathan Routledge and Sydney Spencer.
For a full list of tour dates, to book tickets and for information about specific casting at all UK and Ireland tour venues, go to www.wizardofozmusical.com
Image from the London Palladium production
Aviva Tulley (Dorothy): Aviva trained at The Brit School and Arts Educational School, London. Recent roles include Erzulie in Once On This Island (Southwark Playhouse) and in concert, Roles We’ll Never Play (Turbine Theatre). She played Nabulungi in the 2022 UK Tour of The Book of Mormon to celebrated reviews.
Benjamin Yates (The Scarecrow): Television credits include: Olly in Emmerdale (ITV). Theatre credits include: Jersey Boys (West End); School of Rock (West End); Wicked (UK Tour); Wonderland (UK Tour); West Side Story (Kilworth House); Cats (London Palladium, UK and European Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena Tour); The Who’s Tommy (Blackpool Winter Gardens); Grease (Ljubljana Festival).
Nic Greenshields (The Cowardly Lion): Theatre Credits Include: Love Never Dies (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Les Misérables (International Tour); Les Misérables - The Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre); Young Frankenstein (Garrick Theatre); Guys And Dolls (Savoy/Phoenix Theatre); Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace); The Phantom Of The Opera (His Majesties Theatre); Into The Woods (Royal Opera House); Wonderful Town (Royal Exchange); The Beautiful Game (Cambridge Theatre); Les Misérables (Palace/Queens Theatre); Lautrec (Shaftesbury Theatre); Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Oklahoma (UK Tour); Beauty And The Beast (International Tour); Cats (International Tour). Directing Credits: Resident Director, School Of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre) Assistant Director, The Railway Children (Kings Cross Theatre).
Alex Bourne (The Wizard): Alex has recently reprised his role of Daddy Warbucks on the national tour of Annie. Other theatre includes: Hairspray (UK Tour); Eugenius at The Other Palace; Annie (London, UK Tour and Toronto); Mamma Mia! (UK Tour); Kiss Me, Kate (Royal Albert Hall/BBC Proms); Witches of Eastwick - TMA Nominee for Best Actor (Watermill Theatre); Kiss Me, Kate - Olivier Award-Nominee (Chichester Festival Theatre and Old Vic); We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre); Chicago (Adelphi Theatre); The Rat Pack (Flying Music/Strand Theatre, London); Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Theatrical/UK tour); Rocky Horror Show (Turnstyle); Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Theatrical/Dominion Theatre); Grease (Robert Stigwood Org/Cambridge Theatre, London); Grease (Robert Stigwood Org/National Tour); Only The Lonely (Whitehall Theatre, London); Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (Victoria Palace/US tour) and Showboat (RSC/Opera North at The London Palladium).
Emily Bull (Glinda The Good Witch): For Tonight (Adelphi Theatre); 9 to 5 (UK Tour & South Korea); Matilda (UK Tour); Mary Poppins (International tour); Sunset Boulevard (London Coliseum); The Station Master (Tristan Bates Theatre); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Royal Festival Hall); Cabaret (UK Tour); Sweeney Todd (Adelphi Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre); Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre) and Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).
Abigail Matthews (Toto): Bleak Expectations (Criterion Theatre, West End); Bye Bye Birdie (Rose and Crown, Offie Nominated for Best Supporting Actress); War Horse (Gillian Lynne Theatre); A Winter’s Tale & The Hired Man (Landor Theatre, Offie Nominated for Best Supporting Actress); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (360° Theatre, Kensington Gardens); Evita (UK & European Tour).
Join Dorothy, Toto and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz.
Image from the London Palladium production
Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We're Off To See the Wizard - with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - this spectacular production will be a truly magical experience for all the family.
Directed by Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot The Musical, A Chorus Line) The Wizard of Oz has choreography by Shay Barclay, Set Designer is Colin Richmond, Projection Designer is Douglas O’Connell, Costume and Puppet Designer is Rachael Canning, Lighting Designer is Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer is Adam Fisher, Creative Consultant is Mark Kaufman, Musical Supervisor is George Dyer, casting by Debbie O’Brien, Props Supervisor is Marcus Hall, Props and Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer is Elizabeth Marini.
The Wizard of Oz on tour is presented Michael Harrison, Gavin Kalin Productions, David Mirvish, Crossroads Live, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Nick Thomas, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Jake Hine and Playing Field, by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd.
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