From 23 July, former EastEnders star David Witts returns to London for his West End debut in Wicked. He’ll be playing Fiyero.
Witts has spent the last three years in L.A., working on shows like ABC/Freeform’s Recovery Road and CW’s I Ship It. He also recently completed the James Furlong film An Unpleasant Surprise and director Michael Kampa’s Pride and Prejudice, Cut. Witts is best known for playing Joey Branning in the BBC serial drama EastEnders, a role for which he won ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2013 National Television Awards. He is also the recipient of an Indie Soap Award and a British Soap Award nomination. But despite his film and television credits, Witts has a soft spot for the stage – he trained at the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre, and his theatre credits include Link Larkin in Hairspray at Leicester Curve Theatre.
Of his return to the stage and his West End debut, Witts says:
“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.”
Witts isn’t the only one who’s excited. Wicked executive producer Michael McCabe commented on the casting news:
“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.”
Bradley Jaden, the current Fiyero in London’s production of Wicked, will play his final performance on 21 July.
Currently in its 12th year as a West End show, Wicked, “the spellbinding smash hit” (Time Out London) stars Alice Fearn as Elphaba, Sophie Evans as Glinda, Melanie La Barrie as Madame Morrible, and Andy Hockley as The Wizard. Further casting changes may be in the works, though, so keep your ear to the ground, and your eyes on the western sky.
