Locally Wicked

Fife born Megan Gardiner stars in UK tour opening at Playhouse

Fife-born actor Megan Gardiner is set to star as Nessarose, Elphaba’s wee sister, in the UK and Ireland tour of Wicked which opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse in December for a six week run.

Casting announced today sees Gardiner join fellow West End stars Laura Pick as Elphaba, Sarah O’Connor as Glinda, Carl Man as Fiyero and Simeon Truby as The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond. Tickets are on sale here for the Edinburgh dates, from Thursday 7 December 2023 through to Sunday 14 January 2024.

Megan Gardiner, who is to star as Nessarose in the UK tour of Wicked. Pic: Matt Crockett

Born in Kirkcaldy and raised in Dunfermline, Gardiner went to the The MGA Academy of Performing Arts in Edinburgh.

She has appeared in Captivate theatre productions including Les Misérables School Edition at the 2016 Fringe (★★★☆☆ Spirited), with “a wide-eyed eagerness” as the young Cosette, and in Sweeney Todd at the Brunton in April 2018 (★★★★★ A cut above) when she “splendidly conveyed the neurotic fragility” of Judge Turpin’s ward, Johanna.

Away from Edinburgh, Gardiner has also toured the UK in Les Misérables and most recently appeared in the UK premiere of George Takei’s musical Allegiance at the Charing Cross Theatre, London.

dream show

Expressing her delight at playing Nessarose in the Wicked tour, she described it as “dream show” to be a part of.

She said: “Growing up, I used to sing the songs with my best friend, who is currently playing Nessarose in the West End production! I am so excited to be touring this show to these gorgeous theatres of the UK and Ireland, but Edinburgh, my home, has a special place in my heart. It is an honour to open the tour there.”

Wicked tour principals. Standing: Casey Al-Shaqsy, Jed Berry, Sarah O’Connor, Laura Pick, Carl Man, Simeon Truby. Seated: Megan Gardiner and Donna Berlin. Pic: Matt Crockett

This will be the third time Wicked has visited the Playhouse after five-star visits in Christmas 2014 and May 2018. The current 10 date UK tour opens in Edinburgh, its only Scottish date, and is booked through to the end of next year, ending up at Manchester Palace theatre over Christmas 2024.

Wicked is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, it imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The musical 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.

Directed by Joe Manello, the cast of 33 also includes Donna Berlin as Madame Morrible, Jed Berry as Boq and Casey Al-Shaqsy as Elphaba’s standby. They are part of a company of over 100 on stage and behind the scenes for what is a gigantic production.

Listings

Wicked
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA.
Thursday 7 December 2023 to Sunday 14 January 2024.
Tuesday – Saturday: 7.30pm
Matinees, Wed, Thu, Sat and Sun: 2.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.

ENDS

Tags: Captivate Theatre, Carl Man, Casey Al-Shaqsy, Casting News, Donna Berlin, Jed Berry, Joe Mantello, Laura Pick, Megan Gardiner, MGA Academy, News, Playhouse, Production News, Sarah O’Connor, Simeon Truby, Stephen Schwartz, Wicked, Winnie Holzman