Great Marlow School’s production of The Wizard of Oz lifted its curtain to the school community and public on 10th and 11th December. After many long after school sessions, lunch breaks and weekends working on the production, members of the cast shone in their Wizard of Oz roles; they all embraced the opportunity to entertain their audiences.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, follows Dorothy Gale (Emma Hodson- Yr9), a young girl from Kansas, who is swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to return home, she befriends three companions: the Scarecrow (Zach Cicchirillo- Yr8), who desires a brain; the Tin Man (Hannah Hunt- Yr9), who longs for a heart; and the Cowardly Lion (Thomas Farrow- Yr9), who seeks courage. Together, they travel to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz (Jarrad Dunne- Yr10) for help. Along the way, they face challenges and confront the Wicked Witch of the West (Isabelle Nicholson- Yr9). In the end, Dorothy learns that the power to return home was accessible all along, by just clicking her heels she is transported back to Kansas. The story is a timeless blend of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery.
GMS’s musical featured the classic songs, including Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead and the well-loved song of Over the Rainbow, where the audience was invited to sing along with the whole cast. This was a particularly wonderful moment and a perfect way to celebrate the end of a successful production.
This year we had a huge number of Key Stage 3 students participating in the production. Mr Ross and his team have enjoyed working with GMS’s future acting talent. The students worked hard to learn all the songs and dances. Many parents and carers shared how much they have listened to to the songs over the last few months. A thank you to parents and carers who have put up with these songs continuously.
Students at Great Marlow School ran the lighting and sound desk, front of house and backstage. The responsibility of the whole show was put in the hands of our students. Their dedication and focus have been a pleasure to watch, and they should be extremely proud of themselves.
The staff say it has been a great pleasure working with such talented students. The department is looking forward to the next drama production in the summer.
To view photos from the production see below:
