This weekend there’s a celebration in town. Wicked the Musical is celebrating an incredible 20 years on the West End stage. But there’s another anniversary that we’re celebrating too. For more than 15 of those years, Wicked and the Anti-Bullying Alliance have been working together to speak to children, families and schools about friendship, belonging and bullying.
This partnership comes from the creative genius of Wicked. It’s a show that takes the familiar story of Dorothy's journey from Kansas down the Yellow Brick Road and turns it on its head. It asks the audience to consider an alternative story - was the Wicked Witch of the West really wicked, or was she simply misunderstood, judged unfairly, and the victim of prejudice and exclusion?
What has made Wicked such an enduring success is not just its unforgettable music, spectacular staging and beloved characters. At its heart are themes that remain deeply relevant to young people and to the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance: self-esteem, identity, discrimination, belonging, and bullying.
Throughout the story, audiences see how assumptions, stereotypes and rumours can influence the way people are treated. Characters face exclusion because they are different, friendships are tested by peer pressure and public opinion, and false narratives spread with damaging consequences. Human relationships, power dynamics, and interactions are full of complexity. This is what we see throughout Wicked, and also in many of the experiences that children and young people continue to encounter in schools and communities today, both online and in real life.
That is why Wicked has proven to be such a powerful tool for starting conversations about bullying.
For more than 15 years, Wicked has been an incredible partner and supporter of the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance. We’ve also worked with Wicked Active Learning to develop free educational resources that use the story and characters from Wicked to help pupils explore the complexity of bullying in an engaging and accessible way. By connecting learning to a story that captivates young audiences, these resources encourage meaningful discussions about empathy, respect, inclusion, and standing up for others.
From donation stations to sales of odd socks merchandise, the generosity of the show and its fans has powered our work to raise awareness of bullying and how to put an end to it. We are incredibly grateful for this long-standing commitment and support.
As Wicked marks two decades of inspiring audiences, we'd like to offer a metaphorical standing ovation to the producers, creatives, production team, casts, and everyone else involved in bringing this remarkable story to life. Their work has not only entertained millions but has also helped support important educational conversations about kindness, inclusion and challenging prejudice.
We'd also like to extend our thanks - and applause – to the many schools and youth educational settings who have enthusiastically engaged with the resources over the years, using the themes of Wicked to help children and young people develop understanding, empathy and confidence around celebrating difference.
Here's to 20 years of Wicked on stage, more than 15 years of partnership with the Anti-Bullying Alliance, and many more years of inspiring conversations that help build a world where every child feels safe, included and able to thrive.
Find out more about how Wicked can support conversations about bullying and contribute to programmes of study across English, Drama, Music, PSHE and more at: https://wickedactivelearning.co.uk/free-teaching-resources
Let’s go on with the show!