Spotlight on 'Wicked' with Carl Man

As part of a series celebrating some of the West End's longest-running shows, we speak to Carl Man who plays Fiyero in thrillifying musical Wicked.

You would have to be living under a rock to not know that Wicked is having a moment. The long-running show celebrated its 20th anniversary on Broadway in 2023, and will mark the same birthday in the West End next year at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. The second instalment of the movie — Wicked: For Good — also opens in cinemas today (21 November), reuniting Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey and more in this tale of the unlikely friendship between two witches: Glinda and Elphaba.

Carl Man joins a long line of swoon-worthy Fiyeros — the charming prince from Winkie Country, who becomes romantically involved with both Glinda and Elphaba — including Norbert Leo Butz (the original Broadway cast), Adam Garcia (original West End cast), Aaron Tveit, Oliver Tompsett, and Ryan Reid. Man first joined the ensemble of Wicked in 2018, before embarking on a UK tour of the show in 2023. He returned to the West End cast in 2025.

Man talks to LondonTheatre.co.uk about what makes the show so special, from Stephen Schwartz's songs to the power of "Defying Gravity".

Book Wicked tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Why do you think Wicked has lasted for so long in the West End?

I think the first reason why Wicked has run for so long in the West End is because of the incredible songs by Stephen Schwartz. If you think of the longest-running shows in the West End today, they all have at least one or two songs that have really struck a chord with not only theatre fans but also the general public. Audiences go to these shows with the anticipation and excitement of hearing these songs live.

When you see Wicked you also have this feeling that you are immersing yourself in another world. You can escape to Oz for two and a half hours and get lost in this epic and colourful story.

What is the best audience reaction you have seen to Wicked?

I can always tell what kind of demographics are in the audience depending on the reaction to different moments in the show. When we have a lot of American tourists in the audience they will cheer when Elphaba makes her first entrance and I love that because it sets the energy for the rest of the show.

I can also tell when there are lots of children or school trips in the audience because they really cheer and get giggly after the kiss at the end of "As Long As You’re Mine". It’s very cute and endearing.

What is your favourite moment in Wicked?

I think the most iconic moment and the one that the audience is waiting for is "Defying Gravity". I still find it really cool to listen to it every night from my dressing room. My favourite moment to act in the show is probably when Fiyero and Elphaba run off with the lion cub and they discover there is more to their relationship than we first thought. It’s also the first time we get to see Fiyero be vulnerable.

What is a little-known secret about performing in Wicked?

You have to do a LOT of stairs and running around backstage. If you need to get from one side of the stage to the other you need go under the stage. So sometimes our journey and choreography backstage can be as exhausting as what we do on stage.

What do you hope audiences take away from Wicked?

I want audiences to be able to forget what’s going on in their lives for two and a half hours and come with us on a little journey. I also think Elphaba represents something that we all feel at some point in our lives, which is being the outsider. So I want audiences to know that it’s okay to be different and that what makes you unique is actually your superpower.

Book Wicked tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Carl Man in Wicked. Inset: Emma Kingston as Elphaba. (Photos by Matt Crockett)