The Vivienne talks about dream role in The Wizard of Oz

The new musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, tours the UK and Ireland throughout 2024, following a celebrated run at the world-famous London Palladium.

It stars RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Ice finalist The Vivienne in the dream role as The Wicked Witch of the West.

The Vivienne, real name James Williams who grew up in North Wales and attended Rydal Penrhos School in Colwyn Bay, spoke about the show ahead of the tour coming to Llandudno from March 5 to 10.

What can audiences expect when they come see this version of The Wizard of Oz?

It's the most iconic story ever told, isn't it? And it's definitely very true to the original material, especially the movie that we all know and love with the amazing Judy Garland. But it's been kind of brought forward by I'd say maybe 20 or 30 years. It feels very 50s. It's got this Vegas-y feel to it.

The Vivienne in The Wizard of Oz. Photo: Marc Brenner

How would you describe The Wicked Witch of the West as she's portrayed in the show?

She's this glamorous, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford-esque kind of character. She's fabulous, a strong woman and very misunderstood, but then Dorothy's a very strong character too. The show is everything you know and expect plus a whole lot more. When I saw it at The Palladium my jaw hit the floor. It's beautiful, with the costumes, the numbers, the original songs from the film and the new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber. It’s produced by Michael Harrison, and we're also being directed by Nikolai Foster, so we're in the most amazing hands. It's a treat for everyone.

Is this your first stage acting role?

I've acted on TV before but yes, this is my first theatre role and I keep pinching myself every day. It's probably been the best experience of my life so far. Just the rehearsal process alone was wonderful - being surrounded by the most amazing, talented and creative people, and for them to welcome me with open arms and actually enjoy what I'm doing with the role. I feel very blessed and I keep feeling like I'm the one that's ended up in Oz and that I'm going to wake up in Kansas once more and realise it was all a dream.

What makes The Wicked Witch such an iconic character?

Speaking as a gay man, I was always obsessed with the villain. I wanted to be Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty and Ursula in The Little Mermaid. I was never bothered about the heroine, I wanted to be the evil one. And now here I am, literally painting myself green. It's fabulous. I'm sure it's a lot of fun playing the hero in a story but I always wanted to be the baddie, and now here I am playing one of the biggest baddies of them all.

The Vivienne in The Wizard of Oz. Photo: Marc Brenner

How do you channel your inner witch?

I've been watching some of my favourite witches throughout the years, like Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus, and I kind of borrow from them. I've seen so many interviews where actors say that we all steal and borrow from each other and then put our own spin on things. So along with Bette I'm borrowing from Angelica Houston in The Witches, Meryl Streep in Death Becomes Her, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest. I've made a concoction of all of them, along with the original Margaret Hamilton in the Wizard of Oz film, of course. I actually have a tattoo of her on my leg.

What challenges does the show present to you?

I have a huge song that opens the second act. There's the song, a big dance break and then there's the reprise of the song, which is the kind of big moment that you expect in a musical like this - that big song from the villain. So, the challenge is doing that for eight shows a week, plus the witch is very scream-y. She has those iconic lines like 'I'm melting' and 'Fly, my pretties' and they're screamed into the abyss. It's about having to find the places in my voice where it's not going to kill me every night as well as looking after my health, taking vitamins like they're going out of date and just looking after my body.

The Vivienne in The Wizard of Oz. Photo: Marc Brenner

Can you recall when you first encountered The Wizard of Oz?

Looking back, I've always had this kind of subconscious affinity with The Wizard of Oz. I loved it as a kid and watched it on VHS probably 100 times until it wore out. And then my mum found our family video camera one day when I was older and I'd reenacted the whole of The Wizard of Oz in my bedroom, every character. I was mortified watching it with her. I played The Tin Man in a school production; I auditioned for Dorothy but I got The Tin Man instead. The song Somewhere Over the Rainbow holds such a dear place in my community's heart - and not just my community, in everyone's heart. It's a song about finding yourself, it's about human growth, the human spirit and finding your tribe. The Wizard of Oz has so many themes running through it, and everyone has their own persona; thing that they take away from it.

Is that why you think it's such an enduring story?

It's timeless. It's going to go on long after I'm in the ground. I used to work in a nightclub called Garland's, which is named after Judy Garland and it was themed around The Wizard of Oz. Its influence is everywhere. It's going to live on forever.