IT’S no wonder that Wicked is the winner of over 100 international awards, including two Olivier’s as it wowed a packed audience from the very first note, to when the curtains closed.

The show premiered at the Bristol Hippodrome last Wednesday, and has played to a theatre full of musical-lovers every night since.

Wicked is described as a prequel, and another side to the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It follows Elphaba, a young witch who stands out from the crowd, and not always for the right reasons, and her unlikely friendship with her roommate at sorcery school.

It shows how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be. But was she really wicked, or an innocent victim caught up in a corrupt regime?

Amy Ross put on a gravity-defying performance as Elphaba, a witch struggling in to fit in because of her green skin.

Anyone who plays the part of Elphaba needs a strong pair of lungs on them, and Ross did not disappoint with her powerful vocals and emotive performances.

She bounced off Helen Woolf who plays Glinda, with their very different personalities: Glinda being very preppy and ‘perfect’, and Elphaba with her sharp wit and short temper, making their friendship that more believable.

But her stand-out moment was just before the interval, as she flew above the stage, belting out Defying Gravity. All eyes were on her as she hit the high notes.

Woolf gave an incredible performance as Glinda, having perfect execution of her lines and overly-sweet personality, getting the audience to laugh in all the right places.

A musical would not be complete without a heart-throb love interest, and Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero carried out the role smoothly.

But the show would be nothing without the amazing ensemble who really carry the show, dancing and singing their hearts out with some fantastic choreography filling the stage.

Kudos must also be given to the production team for the incredible costumes and spell-bounding set and lighting designs.

Wicked is an absolute must-see and is showing at The Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday, March 3. For more information, please visit: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/wicked/bristol-hippodrome/.