“Believe in yourself and you can do anything” was the core message of this quirky Motown remake of the Wizard of Oz, and it was certainly apt for this cast; every young person, whether in the limelight or in the supporting chorus, put their heart and soul into their performance.

Particularly impressive was the standard of dancing and singing, with sharp choreography and outstanding voices that would have been at home in the West End.

Darcey Lees was perfectly cast as sweet-natured Dorothy, with a beautiful voice as clear as a bell, and Ryan Stafford, boasting an equally remarkable voice, made a superb ‘Wiz’.

Callum Potter’s physical mastery of the ‘Tinman’ was fascinating, while cast-mate Tyler Holland, also an incredibly talented singer and with a natural flair for character acting, was a joy to watch as the ‘cowardly lion’.

Nicole Fry gave an arresting solo as Glinda, ‘The Good Witch of the North’ and there were lovely performances too from Joanna Lanceley as the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’, Keira Sutcliffe as ‘Addapearl’ and Claudia Davidson as the ‘Scarecrow’.

Imaginative staging and contemporary costumes lent the show a fabulous off-the-wall appeal and were perfectly complemented by a live band that didn’t miss a beat.

This show was made all the more enjoyable owing to a sense of pride that these talented young people are home-grown in Dorset; may they spread their wings to the bright lights of our national stages and beyond!