The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz by the Kaleidoscope Players

The Wizard of Oz is one of those timeless musicals that generations have grown up with. With memorable songs, great characters and the heartwarming message that "there's no place like home". Kaleidoscope Players have taken this much-loved classic and presented a vibrant production while remaining true to the story that everyone knows and loves.

Hannah Bradford led the company as Dorothy Gale, delivering a warm and engaging performance. She captured Dorothy's innocence and determination and her rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’ was heartfelt and beautifully sung, setting the tone for the adventure that followed.

Amy Bradford made a fabulous Scarecrow, bringing excellent comic timing and plenty of energy to the role. Alongside her, Zoe Shepherd was a convincing Tinman, with strong physical characterisation and Evie Barfield completed the trio as the Cowardly Lion with a confident performance full of warmth and humour. Together with Hannah, they all created an excellent team and their friendship felt genuine throughout the journey along the Yellow Brick Road.

Rachel Robinson skilfully brought Toto to life through puppetry. Rachel's expressive performance ensured Toto became a believable and much-loved member of the cast.

Lucy Cadney’s performances as both Aunt Em and Glinda were great, creating two different characters with ease. Martin Church was equally dependable in his roles as Uncle Henry and the Wizard's Guard and Rob Simpson gave a good performance in the dual roles of Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz.

Every production of The Wizard of Oz needs a memorable villain, and Kerry-Ann Roe certainly delivered as Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch. She made an excellent baddie, giving the audience exactly the right amount of menace.

The adult ensemble of Alice Goodall, Tessa Raum, Josephine Walker, Michelle Bradford, Theresa Hartwright, Julie Black, Caitlin Wright, Beth Margett, Freya Mosley and Ron Murfin worked tirelessly throughout the production. Whether appearing as crows, trees, Winkies, poppies or the Citizens of Oz, they helped create a colourful world, adding energy to every scene.

The junior ensemble of Charlotte, Alex, Jessica, Rosie, Callum and Madison also gave confident performances, particularly as the Flying Monkeys.

The Front of House team were very welcoming dressed in their Emerald City costumes, and I particularly like the themed photo board in the foyer. It was also wonderful to see the production being made more accessible through the inclusion of a British Sign Language interpreter. Sebastian Probert interpreted the performance with great professionalism. This commitment to inclusivity is to be commended and reflects the welcoming ethos of Kaleidoscope Players.

Several members of the cast also took on important production roles behind the scenes, demonstrating the true community spirit of Kaleidoscope Players. Alice Goodall and Tessa Raum directed the production well. Bethan Davies-Taylor's musical direction ensured the company produced a confident and enjoyable musical performance throughout.

The set, designed by Tessa Raum and Jason Kramer provided a great setting for the adventure. Jason also fulfilled the roles of Technical Director and Puppetry.

Amy Bradford, Josephine Walker and Evie Barfield created engaging choreography that suited the performers well, while Amy also took on the role of Movement Director. The props, created by Lucy Cadney, Kerry-Ann Roe and Deb Weetman, complemented the production nicely.

The costumes deserve special recognition. Designed by Denise Brown, Lucy Cadney, Zoe Shepherd and Deb Weetman, they were a real highlight of the production. The browns and blues of the Kansas scenes perfectly reflected the drabness of Dorothy's everyday life, making the transition to Oz even more striking. Once Dorothy arrived in Oz, the stage burst into colour, with vibrant costumes that brought each group of characters to life. I particularly liked the Emerald City costumes, which were eye-catching. The contrast between the two worlds was very effective.

Tessa Raum also created the animation sequences and backdrops, which enhanced the storytelling without distracting from the live performance. Dave Dallard provided clear sound throughout, ensuring dialogue and songs were easily heard, and Aaron Mace's lighting design supported the production.

Many congratulations to everyone involved in bringing the magic of Oz to the Duchess Theatre stage.

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