Ex EastEnder David Witts has been wooed back from three years in LA to play Fiyero in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre this summer.
Witts is not a stranger to musical theatre, having starred as Link Larkin in the hit musical Hairspray at Leicester Curve Theatre, although he is probably best known for playing Joey Branning in BBC’s EastEnders, for which he won Best Newcomer at the 2013 National Television Awards. For US television, he has most recently been a series regular in Recovery Road (for ABC/Freeform) and I Ship It (for the CW Network).
David Witts said:
“After three amazing years living and working in Los Angeles, I am excited to be getting back on stage again and to be coming home to make my West End debut in the incredible musical Wicked. I can’t wait to start rehearsals and to join everyone at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from 23 July.”
Michael McCabe, executive producer (UK) of Wicked, said: “We are delighted that David Witts is returning to the UK to star as Fiyero in Wicked. David has proved himself to be an accomplished and popular actor on both stage and screen since his award-winning debut as Joey Branning in EastEnders back in 2012, and he has all the qualities to be a fantastic Fiyero.”
Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked currently stars Alice Fearn (Elphaba), Sophie Evans (Glinda), Bradley Jaden (Fiyero), Melanie La Barrie (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard), Martin Ball (Doctor Dillamond), Sarah McNicholas (Nessarose), Jack Lansbury (Boq), Laura Pick (Standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie and Maria Coyne (Standby for Glinda). Bradley Jaden will play his final performance as Fiyero on Saturday 21 July 2018. Further casting to be announced.
A year-long UK and Ireland tour of Wicked opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 8 May 2018. The tour will then visit Leeds, Dublin, Sunderland, Southampton, Cardiff and, for Christmas 2018/19, a final return to the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
