Wizard of Oz

Yes, a cowardly lion, confused scarecrow and a tin man searching for a heart – but this is Blue Apple Theatre taking on a classic, so expect the unexpected and be prepared to see the familiar from a fresh perspective.

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Reviews

Review from West End Best Friend

Review from OutThere1971 Theatre, Films and Art Reviews

Director's Notes

Director’s Notes

We are proud to present you with a very different take on a classic tale; we hope you enjoy it. We are well aware that we have tinkered with a firm family favourite, but we at Blue Apple like to take a fresh look at the familiar in the hope it breathes new life into something we thought we all knew. This version is both very true to the original book from 1900 whilst taking big liberties - we have kept the original Silver Shoes, Golden Caps and Quadlings, but we have remodelled L Frank Baum somewhat... we think he’d see the funny side. The past two years have tested us and taught us in equal measure, and it feels that the shared experience of coming together to both tell and watch a tale of courage, friendship and resilience is as vital as it has ever been.

This is the first of two shows which will explore the theme of ‘ambition’ across the year. We all know that ambitions can be healthy or toxic; they can benefit us all or can make the few triumph above the many. Along with the ambitions in the story of Dorothy and her friends (home, heart, courage and brains), this whole show is underpinned with our ambition to keep telling stories which entertain and provoke - but it would all mean nothing without an audience to connect with and talk to. Thank you again for being there in a theatre seat - we’d be nothing without you.

Richard Conlon
Director

Running Time

Estimated running time is 90 minutes with one interval.

Cast and Crew

Cast

Mary - Anna Brisbane
Young Mary - Katy Francis
Dorothy - Katie Appleford
Young Dorothy - Isla Hall
Toto - David Hunt
Witches - Ros Davies
Scarecrow - Sam Dace
Tin Woodsman - James Benfield
Lion - Tom Hatchett
Aunt Em - Lucy Parrott
Uncle Henry - Lawrie Morris
L Frank Baum - Neil Bennett
Oz, The Great and Powerful - Kym Nash
The Willows, Manager - Paul Smith
The Willows, Assistant - Andy Canning
The Willows, Staff - Ali Sinclair-Wilson
Willows Residents - Alice Peck, Elena Moody
Mary’s Neighbours and Narration - James Elsworthy, James Spencer, Neil White, Lawrie Morris
The Munchkins, The Winkies and The Quadlings - Daniel Austin, Helen Burns, Daniel Chopra, Teddy Gameson, George Collingwood, Joseph Guerrier, Jonny Ling, Richard Marshall, James Smith
Street Dancers - James Wiseman and Amy Britt
Our thanks to Lucy Thomas and Jossie Kirby for their involvement
Opening Audio - spoken by Osborne School Performing Arts Students
2022 Radio and 1970 TV voice - Special thanks to guest artist Clare Carson
The Teacher voice - Special thanks to guest artist Miriam Margoyles
Where Do We Go To In Our Dreams? created by Kate Mellors and the Blue Apple Singers (James Benfield, Harry and Archie Ayling, Jennie Grover, Jane Chadwick, Anna Brisbane, Lawrie Morris, Tommy Jessop, Paul Smith). Recorded with the grateful assistance of Dr Niall Thomas at the University of Winchester.

Creative Team

Art Direction, Costume and Puppets - Polly Perry
Set, Props and Production Management - Mark Pyke
Technical Creatives - Samuel Morley, Django Pinter
Film - Sophie Pyke
Video Editing - Laura Walton
On Stage Support and Rehearsal Volunteers - Michelle Pluck, Rachel Collins, Sue Dashper, Mary Richards, Chris Pearce, Clare Talks, Kit Colville, Avery Goodchild, Rufus Dakin, Jamie Mackinnon, Ronan Allen, Jamie Mackinnon

Professional Associate Artists

Amanda Watkinson - Street Dance
Kate Mellors - Singing
Alana Jones - Creative Dance
Caroline Hotchkiss - D@win Dance
Rebecca Godden - Special Assignments Company
We need more professional associate artists so please contact us if you can help. Graphic Design - Richard Williams
Photography - Mike Hall
Printing - Diguru Limited

Blue Apple Trustees

Ed Rochead, Duncan Rutter, Ross Harvie, Kim Gottlieb, Marilyn Weston, Jon Brown, Cara Honey, Lucy McKenna, Dominic Thompson, Megan Ball.

Blue Apple Founder

Jane Jessop

Blue Apple Patrons

Alan Lovell DL, Sally Phillips

Blue Apple Team

Artistic Director - Richard Conlon
Finance & Resources Manager - Kenneth Parry
Administrator - Elisabeth Yeats-Brown
Communications Manager - Pip Armitage
Development Lead - Daisy Robinson
Engagement Coordinator - Rebecca Godden

Thank you

The staff and board of Blue Apple would like to thank the families and supporters of our performers as well as the many volunteers who give their time freely and enthusiastically to support all of our groups.

We are also very grateful to the support of Winchester College for providing the use of their QEII Theatre and Muse Bar.

Blue Apple’s Wizard of Oz is supported by The Edward Gostling Foundation and many individual donors.

Blue Apple is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, People’s Postcode Lottery, Arts Council England, University of Winchester, University of Southampton, Perivoli Foundation, and Winchester City Council.