![Green background. Text: [top]"London's #1 Show." Wicked (the dot on the 'i' is a silhouette of a witch on a broom) [bottom] The Apollo Victoria Theatre Image within a circle frame Green witch in a black pointy hat and robe faces forward, side profile of a witch in contrasting white whispers to her.](https://media.londontheatredirect.com/Event/Wicked/event-detail-image_37387.jpg)
First look at new, principal cast members for Wicked, plus extra shows added
Updated on 20 February 2019
One of the most spellbinding musicals of our generation has just got a whole lot 'wickeder'. Take a look at David Witts and Chris Jarman in action. The pair were recently announced to be joining the cast of the West End production of Wicked. Due to the show’s popular demand that continues to 'defy gravity', an extra two matinee shows have been added to the summer performance schedule for Thursday, 16 August and Thursday 20 August 2018 at 2.30pm.
Pictured (from left to right): Rosa O'Reilly taking over the role of Nessarose, Alice Fearn as Elphaba with David Witts as the new Fiyero, and Chris Jarman as the new Doctor Dillamond
David Witts plays the new Fiyero Tigelaar, the Arjiki prince from Winkie Country who serves as Elphaba's love interest and Shiz University classmate. Witts trained for the acting profession at the National Youth Music Theatre and the National Youth Theatre. He is best known for playing Joey Branning on EastEnders and won the award for Best Newcomer for the role at the 2013 National Television Awards. His role on the BBC soap opera also earned him an Inside Soap Award and a nomination for a British Soap Award. The highly prolific actor has also appeared on American television, having starred in Recovery Road for ABC and I Ship It for the CW Network. His most notable previous stage credit includes the role of Link Larkin in Hairspray at Leicester Curve Theatre.
Chris Jarman plays the new Doctor Dillamond. The actor has a very rich background in theatre and originated the role of Hagrid and the Sorting Hat in the London production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. His other stage credits include the roles of The General and Satan in the original cast of The Book of Mormon, the role of Curtis Shank in the original cast Sister Act: The Musical, the RSC production of The Merchant of Venice directed by Rupert Goold, and the National Theatre production of The Comedy of Errors directed by Dominic Cooke.
Rosa O’Reilly joined the original cast of the London production of Wicked and has already portrayed Nessarose on more than one occasion. She has now been promoted to the role as the principal Nessarose. O’Reilly’s previous stage credits include Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing for the West End and UK Tour productions and Soul Girl in Jesus Christ Superstar.
The trio officially begin performing their roles this Monday, 23 July 2018.
Wicked is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that tells the untold story of Glinda and Elphaba's unusual friendship at Shiz University. The critically acclaimed musical has won over 100 major awards, including several Grammy® awards for its spectacular music, which was written by multi-Oscar, Grammy® Award and Golden Globe winner Stephen Schwartz (Pocahontas, Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Some of the show's most notable numbers include 'Dear Old Shiz', 'Popular' and 'Defying Gravity'.
Wicked is booking now at the Apollo Victoria Theatre until 25 May 2019 and it remains as one of the most sought-after tickets in the West End. If you are among the few who have not yet seen this magical production, then be sure to book your tickets to see this fantastic new cast in action!
Purchase your tickets to Wicked here.
By Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels
Ephram is a jack of all trades and enjoys attending theatre, classical music concerts and the opera.