WICKED 10: Gary Wood

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company!

I joined the second cast in 2007 as a member of the ensemble and stayed a further two years until 2010 as a crossover swing. That meant I covered all 9 of the male ensemble.

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

I first saw the show in London not long after it opened. It was a Wednesday matinee and the entire principle cast were on including Idina Menzel. I hadn't listened to the soundtrack before going so I really knew nothing about the show. I just remember sitting, absolutely transfixed by the whole thing. I will never forget the thrill of seeing Elphaba fly for the first time!

WICKED 10: Stevie Tate-Bauer

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 
I was in the ensemble in 2010/2011. I was also 1st cover Elphaba and 1st cover Nessarose and during my time at Wicked, I was lucky enough to go on as Elphaba twice and I lost count of how many Nessarose shows I did! Lots!

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?
I saw the Original London Cast 10 years ago at the Apollo Victoria and I was absolutely spellbound. From that day onwards, it was my aim to be in the show!

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?
Although I had a burning passion to be in Wicked and also get to play Elphaba, it still came as quite a shock when I received the phonecall from my Agent  saying the job was mine!

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?
My first show as Elphaba. I had it in my contract that I would go on and so the audience was filled with so many of my family and friends supporting me. I was overwhelmed by the whole experience and felt after that night, I really had lived my dream and felt fulfilled as an actress.

WICKED 10: Christopher Howell

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

 I played Doctor Dillamond from 2011 to 2013 (22 months) and I had the best time.

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?
I first saw Wicked when it opened in London. I remember the huge buzz about the show and it certainly delivered. I also remember thinking that I would never be in the show as I could not place myself in it. 

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?
My best memories of my time there would be to do with the fantastic cast and audiences' there. I think Rachel Tucker's last night was absolutely incredible as she sung as if her life depended on it and the audience ate it up! I made many good friends there so there are many memories. Also, getting to work with Louise Plowright again was a joy - I miss her.

WICKED 10: Lillie Flynn

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

I played Nessarose in 2012. 

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

The first time I saw Wicked was way back in 2008 in London and I loved every second of it!

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

I had no idea that I would but I sure as hell wanted to be! There are very few shows that have had that impression on me.

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?

The amazing cast I had the pleasure of working with at the time. They were all so brilliant and we made a good team! It was also my very first principle role so that first night was a pretty special one.

WICKED 10: Alex Louize Bird

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

I was in the ensemble (pineapple hair track!) and I stayed for 3 contracts! So about 2 and a half years. 

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

I remember everyone at college being so obsessed with Wicked that I didn't want to see it! But as third years our head of company was the resident director (Petra Siniawski) so we went to see it and my jaw was on the floor for the whole show! 

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

Wicked was the one show I wanted to make it into. And I was so overwhelmed that it was my first west end show as an adult at 21 years old! 

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?

My best memory is the fact I got to learn the choreography from the original choreographer Wayne Cliento. It was such an incredible experience and one I will never forget. 

WICKED 10: Harry Francis

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

I did the show in 2012. I understudied Boq, but I also played the role of 'the rat'. The rat is possibly the most important role in Wicked. He appears on three occasions working as a servant to the humans. The thought that my rat would eventually lose the ability to speak would break my heart every night. It was sometimes impossible to break character. I then dressed up as many other characters including Averic, Fiyeros lovable chauffeur. 

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

It was actually a bootleg dvd when the show first came out (slapping my wrist as I type)! I was at a full time theatre school and we were all obsessed. The first I saw the show live was on Broadway with Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty. It blew my mind! 

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

It was definitely one I wanted to try and be in. 

WICKED 10: Sabrina Carter

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

I was Phfanee and 1st cover Elphaba. I was part of the company for 2 contracts (just short of 18 months). 

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

I hadn't actually seen the show until I was auditioning for it. I think it was my before my 2nd audition (of 3 recalls). 

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

Well, you can but hope. I remember hearing defying gravity for the first time and thinking how magnificent it was. At college I used to sing it all the time and then the chance came out of the blue to audition for it. 

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?

It was my 1st big (London) professional job. The whole thing was such an eye opening experience. As a performer you dream of working in the West End so to be there and covering one of the biggest parts in musical theatre was extraordinary. My favourite ever moment was when I got to play Elphaba from start to finish (as my 1st show was mid way through a matinee) but that night it was my part. Retrospectively, it was such a massive moment for me. To share that stage with Dianne Pilkington (who in my opinion is one of thee finest actresses I've ever worked with) and my friends in the ensemble was a dream. 

WICKED 10: Dale Rapley

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 
I played the Wizard and Dr Dillamond in the first year of the UK and Ireland tour 2013/14. 

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?
I first saw Wicked at the Apollo Victoria in the spring of 2013, when I knew I was likely to have an audition for the show later that year. 

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?
My best memory was the amazing audiences at the rather cramped, but more intimate, Kings Theatre Glasgow, where I think the show worked best, even though they had to almost re-build the theatre to fit the set in. And even then, we didn't manage to get it all in! 

Tell us one embarrassing story from your time in the show…
The most embarrassing thing that happened was while I was playing Dr Dillamond in Dublin, when the blackboard completely collapsed onto the stage, after I'd tried to spin it round, and my next line was, 'Who is responsible for this?' It did get a laugh - not least from all the Shiz students who were facing me with their backs to the audience! 

WICKED 10: James Gillan

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 
I played the role of Boq the first 2 years of the run. 

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?
Yes my dearest friend Ashleigh Gray and I where on a break from the UK tour of Taboo, so we decided to go to New York, we saw wicked (not long opened) and said we both wanted to be in it and we where! It was magical. 

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?
I knew when I saw it on Broadway I wanted to play Boq. I was thrilled to be the original in London and I loved using my Scottish accent, that was all my idea, I just thought he suited it. 

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?
Just the whole buzz with Idina (Menzel) coming over, all the principles got to meet the night before rehearsals for a meal with some of the creative team just to say hi ,and I think welcome Idina. But I've lots of great memory's, too many to go into. 

WICKED 10: Rachel Muldoon

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

The first time I joined the cast was in '08 - '09 and I played The Witch's Mother. The second time I returned on a maternity leave that ended up being a lot longer than expected so from '13 - '15 and I played a role in the ensemble (The one with the big feather boa).

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

I first saw Wicked in London the year it opened in 2006 and I saw Kerry Ellis on for Elphaba.

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

I had always felt determined that I had to be a part of Wicked one day. It's such an iconic show for our generation of theatre so when I was cast I just couldn't believe it, I was over the moon. I felt extremely lucky and proud.

WICKED 10: Kerry Ellis

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

Elphaba 2007- 2009 & 2014.

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

I never saw the show before I was in the cast , I did watch it after I left which was a whole other experience. 

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

 When I auditioned I didn't really know anything about the show, it was only after we opened the show in London I began to understand the passion.

What is your best memory from your time at WICKED?

Opening on Broadway and my final two London shows will stay with me forever, they were magical.

Tell us one embarrassing story from your time in the show…

My broom broke in the middle of a scene once and we all fell about laughing. 

WICKED 10: Nicola Brazil

Firstly, tell us what part you played and what year(s) you were in the company! 

Wicked was my first Professional West End Job after graduating, I was honoured to get into the ensemble of such an amazing show. It's just coming to to 9 years I think.... I was part of the Second cast.

Do you remember seeing WICKED for the first time? When and where was it?

The first time I actually saw Wicked was when I was auditioning for the show, I'd seen clips and knew all the music but had not had the opportunity till that point to actually see the show in the flesh.

Did you ever think you’d be in the show one day?

I'd always hoped that one day I would get to perform on that huge stage at the Apollo Victoria in the show so when the audition came up I thought, this is it , go for it girl! The audition process was amazing and a great learning experience I found the dancing quite challenging at first but the show helped me build my confidence in that department.