Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood is off to see the Wizard, as the Wicked Witch of the West, in The Wizard of Oz

The Beloved Musical Comes directly to Milton Keynes Theatre from a Summer Season at the London Palladium, from Tue 16 – Sun 21 Jul 2024!

Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are thrilled to announce that Strictly Come Dancing’s longest-standing judge, Craig Revel Horwood, will play The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tue 16 – Sun 21 Jul 2024. The new musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, tours the UK and Ireland throughout 2024, following a celebrated run at the world-famous London Palladium. Further casting is to be announced.

Join Dorothy, Toto and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz. Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off to See the Wizard – with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – this spectacular production will be a truly magical experience for all the family.

Craig Revel Horwood says: “I am super excited about taking on the iconic role of The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. She’s mean, green and wants those shoes! Aquaphobic and fab-u-lous…here I come!”

Craig Revel Horwood is a household name having appeared as a Judge on all 21 series of the hit BBC1 entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. He also both directs and appears in the annual Strictly Come Dancing Live arena tour. He created the touring show Strictly Confidential, was Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars New Zealand and is currently Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars Australia.

Craig started his career as a performer in musical theatre in his home country of Australia, moving to London to appear in many West End musicals including Miss Saigon and Crazy for You. After many years, he returned to the West End starring as Miss Hannigan in Annie, which he also twice successfully toured around the UK. He has starred in pantomime every year with roles including the Wicked Queen in Snow White, Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella.

Craig’s work as a director/choreographer has included productions of The Witches of Eastwick and Copacabana at the Watermill Theatre Newbury, Fiddler on the Roof on a national tour, Chess on tour in the UK and in Toronto, The Hot Mikado on a national tour, and in the West End: Sunset Boulevard, My One and Only and Spend, Spend, Spend, the last two of which were nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Choreography. Craig has also choreographed several musicals and operas in Europe and choreographed Paradise Moscow for Opera North and created work for the Ballet Boyz. In 2022, Craig directed and co-choreographed a new production of the musical Strictly Ballroom starring Kevin Clifton.

In 2012 Craig won the BBC2 series Maestro at the Opera, the final of which saw him conduct Act 2 of La Boheme at the Royal Opera House. He has also won Celebrity Masterchef and discovered his Australian roots in Who Do You Think You Are. In Summer 2021 Craig was seen travelling the UK with fellow Strictly Judge Bruno Tonioli on the ITV primetime show Craig and Bruno’s Great British Road Trips and was revealed as ‘Knickerbocker Glory’ on ITV’s The Masked Dancer, reaching the semi-final. In 2022 Craig toured the UK in his solo show All Balls and Glitter and in 2023 Craig reprised the role of Miss Hannigan in the UK Tour of Annie. This Christmas, Craig will be playing the ‘Wicked Stepmother’ in Cinderella at the Wimbledon Theatre. Craig has three volumes of memoirs published, and his debut novel ‘Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street’ was published in 2020.

Directed by Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot The Musical, A Chorus Line) The Wizard of Oz has choreography by Shay Barclay, Set Designer is Colin Richmond, Projection Designer is Douglas O’Connell, Costume and Puppet Designer is Rachael Canning, Lighting Designer is Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer is Adam Fisher, Creative Consultant is Mark Kaufman, Musical Supervisor is George Dyer, casting by Debbie O’Brien, Props Supervisor is Marcus Hall Props, and Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer is Elizabeth Marini.

The Wizard of Oz on tour is presented Michael Harrison, Gavin Kalin Productions, David Mirvish, Crossroads Live, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Nick Thomas, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Jake Hine and Playing Field, by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd.

Book your tickets here.