Going into this as a lifelong fan of The Wizard of Oz, I didn't know what I would think. The movie has become a Christmas-time staple for me with its songs ingrained in my memory - but I think Wicked just turned it on its head.

The musical runs almost as a prequel to the original story and is based on a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West'.

Since 2006, this stunning show has been playing in London, housed at the art deco Apollo Victoria Theatre situated a stone's throw from Victoria station.

It tells the story of Glinda, 'The Good', and Elphaba, the 'Wicked Witch of the West' and how they became unlikely university friends.

Elphaba (Willemijn Verkaik) is a force of nature; a young girl with a tragic upbringing who is thrown into the world of popularity as she meets Glinda (Suzie Mathers).

Interestingly, Wicked portrays the role of the traditional villain as a heroine, making you really root for her as she frees the flying monkeys and 'terrorises' Oz - but I won't give away how.

Songs like Defying Gravity and For Good have become synonymous with this spectacular production, having been replicated on hit TV shows such as Glee, and for good reason too.

The performances by Willemijn Verkaik, the first actress to have performed Wicked in three languages, and Suzie Mathers, who has performed as Glinda in Asia, Australia and now London, are just breathtaking.

Following in the footsteps of the iconic Broadway cast of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth isn't easy, but these two women proved their pipes are more than capable of delivering an emotional and stunning performance to envy even them.

Other notable performances came from former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry as the Wizard of Oz, who showed off his enviable charm, and from Idriss Kargbo as Boq, who delivered a heartfelt and lovable performance while infatuated with Glinda.

Fiyerois a dashing young prince stuck in the middle of a weird and unfortunate love triangle who you do feel for, thanks to the expert work of Oliver Savile.

Wicked plays on your heartstrings all the way through, from scenes of immense sadness to scenes of utter delight, it will leave you laughing and crying in equal measures.

No stone is left unturned as well-loved characters from the original story finally get a back story, presented in a way which will leave you saying 'oh my god really?' under your breath as you vow never to take anything at face value again.

Wicked is immaculately staged, with incredible direction, lighting, costumes and music all coming together to transport the audience into the world of Oz.

It is clear to see why Wicked has become a staple of the musical theatre world as it delivers incredible performances time and time again, to thousands.

More than eight million people have seen this show, and last night I was just one of them, but for me - it's an experience I'll never forget.

To find out more and book tickets, visit the Wicked website.