SHAFTESBURY Arts Centre’s music and drama group will be stepping out on the yellow brick road for this year’s pantomime, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. at the Bell Street venue from 23rd January to 1st February.

Written by Nigel Holmes and directed by Sophia Ruel, the show follows the original book by L Frank Baum, but with a few new characters, a fresh take on popular songs and a whole new look for the stage.

The steampunk and Victorian science fiction designs running throughout the show will bring a true spectacle for all ages of audience.

The store follows a young girl called Dorothy who finds herself, her dog, Toto, and her Aunt Em (the Dame) caught in the storm of the century which sends them spinning into a magical world called Oz.

As their little country house crashes in Munchkin land, a community full of strange and quirky people, it ends up on top of the evil Witch of the East who has terrorised the Munchkin people for years. They declare Dorothy their hero and saviour.

As pleased as Dorothy is to have helped the Munchkins, all she wants is to get back home to Kansas.

With a kiss from a Good Witch and some magical slippers on her feet Dorothy, Aunt Em and Toto head off along a yellow brick road to seek a ticket home from the most powerful being in the land – the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

On their journey to the Emerald City, Dorothy, Toto and Aunt Em are joined by some unlikely friends – a Scarecrow, a Tin-man and a Lion. The new friends join together to stay safe from the Wicked Witch from the West, who follows their every step, trying to snatch the magical slippers from Dorothy’s feet.

The yellow brick road is a busy place –prepare to meet a prince who seeks a kiss with a princess, a fragile princess who is lost and confused and a pair of Munchkins trying to keep a secret from the Wicked Witch.

There are many adventures along the way – fun for all the family!