Meet the Wakefield Actress Playing Elphaba in Wicked
Currently putting a spell on audiences at Sunderland Empire, Laura Pick previously played Elphaba in the West End
Written by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and scriptwriter Winnie Holzman, Wicked has been performed in more than 130 cities in 16 countries, and has been seen by 65 million people. As we look forward to the release of the two-part movie adaptation starring Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, we headed to Sunderland Empire to see Laura in the theatre show this autumn.
Performing a lead role in Wicked is a dream come true for Laura. She got the CD and music book for her 14th birthday and fell in love with the musical. Alongside Dublin-born Sarah O’ Connor who plays Glinda the Good, for each show Laura is transformed into Elphaba – a green-skinned student who wants to make the world a better place even though she is destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West.
In the West End, Laura says her first few shows felt like ‘a bit of an out-of-body experience’. ‘I don’t think it quite hit me ’til I’d done a few shows but I was like “oh my goodness, I’m doing this – and this is the best thing ever”,’ she laughs. Now on the UK tour, Laura says she’s enjoyed meeting a variety of audiences.
‘Bringing it to hometowns feels a bit more special and people are so excited to see it, whether they’ve seen it before or never seen it before,’ she says. ‘The audiences’ responses have been absolutely incredible. It’s great for us too because we’re never settled into one place – we’re off and moving somewhere else and figuring out what to do and where to go. It’s amazing.’
Wicked has only ever become more and more ‘popular’ and Laura says that’s because it’s always relevant. ‘I think so many people can relate to Elphaba as a character,’ she says. ‘She’s misunderstood, she’s judged by the way she looks, because she’s different. I feel like anyone who feels a bit different can relate to her. Everyone can relate to her in that aspect.
‘It’s not the easiest role to take on. She comes with her challenges. She’s very high-energy with powerful vocals and there’s a challenge of making sure you’re looking after yourself the best you can. If there’s a cold going round, you’ve got to try and keep yourself away and do everything you can to stay well. That’s the main challenge behind the scenes. On stage, it’s about learning to adapt to the new venue each time. That’s why we do a tech dress rehearsal before we open at each venue to make sure everyone knows what they’re doing safely.’
The show’s music plays a big part in it’s popularity. ‘I think the music is incredible,’ says Laura. ‘If you don’t leave singing one of the songs, you must’ve been asleep! I think it’s a story that people can really connect to and enjoy. There’s something for everyone – the costumes, the lighting. I’ve had friends, and friends of friends, who say they don’t really like musicals but have come to see it and left saying ‘that was great’. It’s one of those shows that is just for every audience of every generation.’
Laura struggles to pick her favourite song to sing so she highlights a few. ‘I actually love them all,’ she laughs. ‘It depends on what mood I’m in. Some days it’s The Wizard and I at the start of the show because it’s all about high energy. Some days it’s Defying Gravity at the end of act one… I mean, that’s pretty consistently my favourite because it’s so powerful! But I also really enjoy singing No Good Deed because you can give it everything. Actually, one of the most special songs to sing is For Good with Glinda. It’s a really special moment to connect with your fellow actor and sing that beautiful song together.’
Laura says her favourite theatres in Yorkshire are Theatre Royal Wakefield and The Lamproom Theatre in Barnsley because they ‘feel like home’ – and there’s no place like home, right? ‘But it’s actually quite nostalgic being at Sunderland Empire because it’s the same architecture as the Theatre Royal Wakefield,’ she adds. ‘I stepped onto the stage and thought “this is very familiar”.’
When the UK tour comes to an end, Laura is excited to get back to London and get into more auditions. ‘Les Mis is another bucket-list show for me,’ she reveals. ‘I’d like to be a part of workshops of new musicals too, and get out there and do something new and fresh.’
