IT’S A golden anniversary, but it’s going to be celebrated with a visit to Emerald City, for South Hill Park is off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz in a special two-site show.
The play will be a modern adaptation, which tells the story of Dorothy, a young girl with killer heels, and a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion for friends.
Staged as part of the Bracknell-based arts centre’s 50th year, it will see the play move from its grounds through The Lexicon, encompassing several different locations for the feast of storytelling, theatre and visual arts.
Frank L Baum’s book The Wizard of Oz needs little introduction, not least as the film has enchanted audiences for decades.
Dorothy arrives Munchkinland following a storm. After meeting her new friends, they embark on a quest to defeat the Wicked Witch, with the help of the Good Witch, before arriving at Emerald City – which will be situated within Princess Square at The Lexicon.
Written and directed by Mark Hooper, with staging and production by South Hill Park’s creative and technical team, the show aims to be an interactive and immersive experience, with several surprises along the way.
Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, is looking forward to the shopping centre becoming a theatre set for the show, which runs in August.
“We are delighted to be part of South Hill Park’s first promenade performance,” she says.
“In addition to the final acts of the show taking place at The Lexicon, we will also be running a free Follow the Yellow Brick Road journey throughout the town centre, with fabulous prizes to be won.”
The play is also welcomed by Susan Halliwell, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council.
She said: ”It has long been an ambition to bring together these two outstanding destinations and the council is thrilled to support another fantastic show from the South Hill Park team.”
The show runs from Thursday, August 17, through to Sunday, August 20, and again from Thursday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26, with relaxed performances on the two Saturdays. Performances cost £5, and are at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.45pm and 6pm.
It will take around two-and-a-half hours, and ticket prices do not include flying monkeys or any other form of transport between South Hill Park and The Lexicon.
For more details, log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/the-yellow-brick-road
