The Norwegian premiere of Wicked has made theatre history by becoming the first stage production to incorporate new material from the recent Wicked movie.
The non-replica production, which opened at Oslo’s Folketeateret on 6 March 2025, is playing until 26 April.
The show features an alternate ending for the song Popular — a change originally written by composer Stephen Schwartz for Ariana Grande’s performance in the film adaptation.
The reworked ending for Popular marks the first time that new material from the Wicked movie has found its way into a live stage version of the much-loved musical.
The Oslo production, a non-replica staging distinct from the original Broadway and West End versions and with a completely new design, is performed in Norwegian, in a new translation by Atle Halstensen, who is the artistic director of the producers of the show, Scenekvelder.
Scenekvelder has owned the rights to stage Wicked for over six years, but waited until the film before staging the show in Norway.
Alexandra Rotan stars as Glinda, delivering the revised rendition of Popular.
Back in November, Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz hinted that the change might make its way into stage productions. “When I came in with this new ending, [Ariana Grande] was at first hesitant,” he said, in an interview with BuzzFeed UK. “I said, ‘If I thought of this [ending] then, I would have done it.’ That’s the one that, I think, might find its way back into the stage musical.”
Oslo’s Wicked has now confirmed that prediction, bringing the cinematic update to the theatre audience for the first time.
Video: Wicked – Oslo trailer
Wicked in Oslo also stars Sanne Kvitnes as Elphaba, Thomas Brasel as Fiyero, Siren Jørgensen as Madame Morrible, Frode Winther as The Wizard, Benjamin Hiley (Boq), Katarina Lund (Nessarose/Ensemble), Pål Jensen (Dr. Dillamond/Ensemble), and Simon Söderlund (Chistery/Ensemble).
Wicked is playing at Folketeateret in Oslo until 26 April 2025.
ALSO BOOKING: Book tickets to WICKED in London at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre, London
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