I remember my first trip to see it in 2008. I was a broke student who saved up for months, and I cried during “For Good” like a leaky faucet. Since then, that same theatre has hosted countless other people’s first, fifth, and fiftieth visits.
To put it in everyday terms: if Wicked were a child, it would be getting ready for its A-levels by now. It’s older than the current generation of TikTok influencers, and it’s still packing the house every single night.
That’s not just a show—that’s a survivor. It’s the mate who still shows up to the pub after everyone else has moved to a different city.
A Tale of Two Green Ladies
The funny thing is, while the London production has been running for almost two decades, the Broadway original opened even earlier—in October 2003. So when Londoners say, “Oh, it’s been here for ages,” we mean ages.
But here’s the kicker: the show has never actually closed. No hiatus, no pandemic break longer than the mandatory shutdown. It just kept going, like that one friend who never cancels plans.
Wicked Musical London Review • A Moment With Franca
For context, since Wicked opened in London, the UK has had five Prime Ministers, hosted the 2012 Olympics, and watched season one of Strictly Come Dancing come and go. And Elphaba is still belting her heart out.
