When Oz came to Tarporley

Last week, the Technicolor splendour of The Wizard of Oz came to Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College as a cast of over 100 students, musicians and stage and technical crew pulled together to perform a magical show.

The Wizard of Oz is a story about a journey of self-discovery, centred around the character of Dorothy; a young teenage girl who struggles with the challenges in her reality and lives in the hope that somewhere, over the rainbow, there is a happier place where her troubles disappear. When Kansas is attacked by a raging cyclone, Dorothy becomes caught up the frightful storm. When she 'appears' to wake from the storm, she suddenly realises that she isn't in Kansas anymore...

From this point the audience are taken on Dorothy's journey to find the Wizard of Oz and escape the evil prowess of the Wicked Witch! Along the way we are introduced to different characters who befriend Dorothy and help her to discover that she has the compassion, intelligence and courage to take on 'real life' and the struggles we face when progressing from a teenager into a young adult.

The production was performed from Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th January ensuring that all members of the local community, including partner Primary schools, had the chance to be part of the special show. Rehearsals first began back last academic year meaning the cast were incredibly polished and professional in their performances. Such was the high standard of talent witnessed across the evenings, that audiences commented it was like being on Broadway or in the West End! Headteacher Sarah Lee commented, "This year's show was enormously inspiring. It was a delight to see our students flourish and to be part of what was a huge team effort. I would like to extend my thanks to all the cast, crew and teachers for their commitment and dedication in bringing this magical show to life."