The smash hit West End show Wicked is returning to the North East and tickets will be available in the summer.

Hailed as one of the most successful musicals of all time, it's been announced today (Friday, November 18) that the show will go on a ten-city UK and Ireland tour in 2023 - 2025 UK.

And the record-breaking touring production will fly back to Sunderland Empire for four weeks only from Tuesday, September 24 to Sunday October 20, 2024.

One of the best-selling productions in the venue’s history, Wicked sold an incredible 100,000 tickets across its two celebrated previous engagements in 2015 and 2018.

The Northern Echo: Wicked UK London Company Picture: Mark SeniorWicked UK London Company Picture: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)

Tickets are on public sale from Thursday, June 8 2023, at atgtickets.com.

The musical tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, and it continues its open-ended run at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it has already been seen by more than 11 million people and is now in its 17th year.

Read more: Corner shop shut down for THREE MONTHS after being caught selling illegal cigarettes

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Northern Echo: Wicked UK London Company Picture: Mark SeniorWicked UK London Company Picture: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)

With a touring cast, orchestra, company and crew of 82 people, and a further 20 people employed locally, the show played to sold-out audiences during two previous tours of the UK & Ireland, winning the BroadwayWorld UK Award for ‘Best Touring Production’.

Wicked executive producer (UK & Ireland), Michael McCabe, said: “We are proud to be bringing Wicked back to the magnificent Sunderland Empire, where incredible audiences greeted us during two celebrated previous engagements.

"We’re excited to have this opportunity to share once again the spectacle, magic and emotion that has created unforgettable memories for audiences in the North East and all around the world.”

The Northern Echo: Wicked London, Willemijn Verkaik, Picture: Matt CrockettWicked London, Willemijn Verkaik, Picture: Matt Crockett (Image: Matt Crockett)

Marie Nixon, theatre director at Sunderland Empire, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming the spellbinding phenomenon that is Wicked back to the Sunderland Empire once again.

"It will have been six years since this iconic production turned our venue positively Emerald and, being such a smash-hit with the people of the North East, I would advise long-time fans and first-time Oz-goers to book their Wicked tickets swiftly after on-sale – it’s sure to be popular."

The Northern Echo: Wicked UK London Company Picture: Mark SeniorWicked UK London Company Picture: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)

The Northern Echo: Wicked Picture: Matt CrockettWicked Picture: Matt Crockett (Image: Matt Crockett)

Read more: 

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here