The classic "good versus evil" tale of The Wizard of Oz is surely one of the best-loved films of all time.

So it's only fitting that Wicked has become equally as revered in the musical theatre world.

This year marking its 18th year in London's West End, this lavish production is currently part-way through a three-week season at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre as part of a major UK tour.

Based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, the spectacular show takes us through the back stories of said witch, Elphaba, and her university bestie Glinda, cleverly twisting the tale and setting the scene for the famous movie as it explains how the characters came to be and even positioning the roles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion.

Is one simply born evil? Or does one have evil thrust upon them?

Absolutely everything about this stunning production is utterly magical. Elaborate costumes; genius, snappy choreography; clever staging and, of course, the most outstanding vocals you'll ever hear in musical theatre.

Defying Gravity has become such an iconic song, and it really is something rather special to see it performed live and, seemingly, so effortlessly, by the phenomenally talented Laura Pick as Elphaba. I certainly wasn't the only one wiping away a tear as the house lights went up at the end of act one.

Sarah O'Connor was brilliantly funny as the glitteringly good Glinda, with hers and Pick's vocals combining perfectly in the touching duet, For Good.

Equally impressive were Carl Man as Fiyero, Donna Berlin as Madame Morrible and Simeon Truby as The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond, as well as Megan Gardiner as Elphaba's sister, Nessarose.

These are clearly some of the best vocalists in the theatre world today.

It really is impossible to find fault with this slick, spectacular show - simply spellbinding from start to finish.

Wicked is at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, until June 16.