'I love how vile Madame Morrible is' - Wicked star

As the West End show Wicked marks its 20th anniversary, one of the cast's newest members said she is having great fun playing one of its main characters.

Claire Machin, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, is taking on Madame Morrible as a series of special pink, green and gala performances are scheduled at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.

"I love how vile she is," she said of her character. "It's great fun to play."

She added: "I've been here four months, and I'm absolutely having a ball."

She enjoys how "crazed" the character becomes over the course of the story, she said.

The musical phenomenon is based on Gregory Maguire's bestselling novel, and has become the eighth longest-running musical in British history.

It has clocked up more than 7,500 performances and won more than 100 awards worldwide, including Tony, Olivier and Grammy Awards.

Machin said she was particularly looking forward to the pink and green performances, which would reflect the characters of Elphaba and Glinda, with special goody bags for audience members.

She told BBC Radio Stoke that she used to perform renditions of The Muppets and do impressions in her bedroom at home with her teddies as a child.

She also recalled entering a talent contest at Butlin's on a holiday during "Potters Fortnight", when many of the city's pottery factories would close for a two-week period to allow workers some time off.

She won her family a free holiday in the competition, and said she felt that was the start of her career.

"I have to say I'm one of those lucky people, and I feel it eight times a week [when I go on stage]," added Machin, whose career has also seen her tread the boards in several major West End shows such as Les Misérables, Oliver and My Fair Lady.

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