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The BOA Group are delighted to announce that their Christmas show for 2024 will be The Wizard of Oz. This wicked pantomime adventure will run in Birmingham from Tuesday 26th November until Tuesday 31st December at The Old Rep Theatre. This will mark the ninth Christmas production that The BOA Group have produced at the theatre.
It’s time to don your ruby slippers and join us as we hop, skip, and jump our way down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City…
Dorothy loves her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, but she spends most of her days daydreaming of a place where she and her little dog Toto can escape Kansas and live a life free from the troubles, trials, and tribulations of the farm.
What Dorothy hadn’t been planned for though was a tempestuous tornado whisking her away to a strange and magical land with no way of getting back home. Not only that, but her crash-landing arrival into Oz angers the vile and vicious villain, the Wicked Witch of the West!
This adventure follows Dorothy who, with the help of the Good Witch Glinda, a spirited scarecrow, a tender tinman, and a loveable lion, follows the yellow brick road to try and find a way home. Encountering both friends and foes during her quest through the colourful kingdom, watch as Dorothy and her charismatic companions journey to the Emerald City.
Leading the way in her sparkling ruby slippers, will Dorothy have the brains, heart, and courage to find the wonderful wizard, save Oz from the Wicked Witch, and safely get back home to Kansas?
This dazzling production promises to be a feast for the senses and a treat for all the family. The Wizard of Oz will be an unforgettable panto extravaganza making it an unmissable experience this festive season.
This year’s production of The Wizard of Oz will be directed by Lorna Laidlaw. Lorna is a professional director and actress. Her performance credits include: Mrs Tembe in Doctors, Aggie in Coronation Street, Getting It Straight and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Birmingham Rep.
Theatre Directing: Caribbean Kitchen, Nativity, Stranger in the Park, ID-79 and In Between the Music (Birmingham Rep), Mr Soon Come, winner of The MVSA Award, Best Black Theatre Production (The Drum), Big for me, Little for you (Midlands Arts Centre and National tour), Dismortal Life (Stratford Fringe Festival. Lite, The Public and Arena Wolverhampton), Bun and Cheese (Bussey Centre, Peckham and Old Joint Stock). Rosa Parks the Hidden Journey (Midlands Arts Centre), Sky Comedy Festival: Black Men Fishing and Patch (Birmingham Rep Theatre), She’s Royal, an all-female production (Birmingham Hippodrome and The Wolverhampton Grand).
Lorna said: “I am thrilled to be bringing to the stage this production of The Wizard of Oz. A production full of fun and laughter for the whole family. The yellow brick road is waiting for you!”
We are also excited to announce that actress and comedian Janice Connolly BEM will be joining our Creative Team as Comedy Dramaturg. Janice is best known for performing stand-up comedy as her character Barbara Nice. Her other performance credits include: Phoenix Nights, That Peter Kay Thing, The Good Ship Murder, Coronation Street and So Awkward. Connolly is the artistic director and founder member of the Birmingham-based Women and Theatre. In 2017, she appeared in the New Years Honours list in recognition of her contribution to community arts through her work with Women and Theatre.
Kate Tague, Chief Executive of the BOA Group said: “We are delighted to be announcing this year’s Christmas production is The Wizard of Oz. It will bring together leading talent from across the region alongside our own up and coming performers and crew. We are thrilled to be welcoming Lorna Laidlaw who will direct this year’s production. This family favourite will be a pantomime performance packed with popular songs and lots of audience interaction. Pantomime is a British tradition and Birmingham’s historic Old Rep Theatre is the perfect home for this year’s production. Get ready to laugh, shout and sing as we bring The Wizard of Oz to life this festive season. We can’t wait to see you there!”
The rest of the creative team journeying to the Emerald City include Gladstone Wilson as Musical Director, Ebrahim Nazier as Set Designer and Richard G Jones as Lighting Designer. We also have returning creatives from last years’ Peter Pan including CiCi Howells as Choreographer, Leanne Fitchett as Costume Designer and Clive Meldrum as Sound Designer.
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 13th August 2024. For more information about the production please call the Box Office team on 0121 643 5858 or visit www.crescent-theatre.co.uk.
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performances will take place on Tuesday 10th December (10.15am) and Sunday 29th December (7.00pm). As well as Relaxed performances (RP) on Thursday 5th December (10.15am) and Friday 27th December (2.30pm)