What did reviewer Heidi Jackson make of Dereham Operatic Society Youth Theatre Company’s production of The Wizard of Oz?

Last Thursday night I had the pleasure of going to watch DOSYTCo perform The Wizard of Oz. As an avid supporter of the group and a previous member myself, I always have high expectations of their shows. Prior to this I had never seen a production of this particular musical and so I was unsure what to expect but it came as no surprise that it went above and beyond. The group consists of children aged between seven and 18, all of which stand out as brilliant performers. Even the very youngest performers, most playing the Munchkins of Oz, knew every word and dance move throughout the entirety of the show. I was especially impressed by the costumes provided by Dereham Theatre Costumes and the make-up by Sophie Blanks. The lion, the tin-man and the scarecrow looked incredible which made everything seem even more professional, alongside the acting and characterisation. You could definitely be fooled into thinking you were sitting at the Theatre Royal. Emily Baker, who played Sandy in last year's production of Grease, starred as Dorothy and her depiction of the character was spot on. Emily's voice during Somewhere Over the Rainbow sounded beautiful and her overall performance really suited the general tone of the musical. The scarecrow, played by Josiah Blake, was warm hearted and again so well acted with the way he moved and the occasional comedic lines. Harrison Matwij did an absolutely wonderful job of portraying the tin man - an often-stiff character who also got the audience laughing. Finally, the lion played by Reece King was one of my favourites. His costume, character and portrayal were amazing and the interaction between the four main characters made the show a joy to watch. Having watched previous shows, there were some people who definitely showed how much they have improved. Jasmine Tanner, who played Aunt Em and Gaby Barrel who was an excellent munchkin, are just two that I could name that stood out to me. A big congratulations to everyone involved, yet again a wonderful show – can't wait until the next one! HEIDI JACKSON.