UWL Graduate Lands West End Debut in Wicked
Yara Fabricante to play Nessarose in the hit musical
Yara Fabricante. Picture: UWL
April 17, 2026
A University of West London alumna has secured her first professional role in one of the West End’s biggest shows, just months after graduating. Yara Fabricante, who completed her BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree at the London College of Music last summer, will join the 20th-anniversary cast of Wicked as principal character Nessarose at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from 19 May.
Yara grew up in Qatar and moved to London in 2022 to pursue musical theatre training. During her final year at UWL she appeared in Stephen Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle and Maury Yeston’s Nine, performances that helped her secure representation with Keddie Scott Associates at the College’s annual showcase. From there, she navigated a highly competitive audition process to win the role of Nessarose — a rare achievement for a performer whose professional career is only just beginning.
Reflecting on her training, Yara said the course pushed her to grow in ways she hadn’t expected. She described being encouraged to step outside her comfort zone, discovering skills and confidence she now carries into auditions and performances. She also credited the support of staff at the London College of Music, saying their guidance helped shape her path into the industry and continues to be a resource she can draw on.
She offered simple advice to aspiring performers: believe in yourself and keep going, because every audition builds experience.
Gillian Ford, Course Leader for Musical Theatre at UWL, said Yara ’s achievement is exceptional. It is “incredibly rare”, she noted, for a graduate’s first professional job to be a principal role in the West End. With Wicked enjoying renewed attention following the release of its two film adaptations, Ford said the team at LCM is “immensely proud” of Fabricante’s success.
Her casting adds to a growing list of UWL graduates making their mark on major stages in the UK and beyond.
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