From Wednesday 9th December to Saturday 12th December the Leatherhead Operatic Society performed The Wizard of Oz at The Leatherhead Theatre. The performance was performed by amateur actors aged from 5 to 65.

Leatherhead Operatic Society (LOS) is an operatic society who have staged hundreds of musical both old and new including Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, South Pacific, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Camelot, Guys and Dolls, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof just to name a thing. LOS also put on an annual concert. The society goes back to the beginning of the last century when it was started by Mr C. E. Grantham. He started this society to give pleasure to his friends, bring entertainment for the local people and to raise money for charity. The success of the first society led to the formation of the Leatherhead & District Amateur Dramatics & Operatic Society. Over the years the society has become more and more popular until today where it is called Leatherhead Operatic Society and is one of the biggest societies in Surrey. Standard memberships are £20, memberships for under 16' are by invitation and free and memberships for over 16 in full time education are £10. There are also show fees, Standard show fee is £50, under 16's by invitation only are free but a contribution for costume hire may be charged and over 16's in full time education is £25.

The cast of The Wizard of Oz started rehearsing in late July, early August, after auditioning in the middle of July. The cast rehearsed in four halls Parish Hall, Leatherhead, Garlands Hall, Leatherhead, Mickleham Village Hall, Mickleham and Betchworth Village Hall, Betchworth and performed on the stage at The Leatherhead Theatre. The cast rehearsed on Tuesday and Thursdays at 7:45pm to 10:00pm and on Sundays 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

The cast included many wonderfully talented actors like Helen Newhall who played Dorothy, Dan Burns who played the Scarecrow, Jo Cullen who played Glinda/Aunt Em, Mary Elizabeth White who played Miss Gulch/ The Wicked Witch of the West and Chris Poplett who played Uncle Henry/Guard. The dog Toto was played by a dog called Scamp. Helen Newhall who played Dorothy stole the show each night. When she sang 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' she blew the audience away. Helen was brilliantly casted; Dorothy has to be able to hold the show together as she is on stage nearly all of the show and Helen was able to do that. Clare Whitenell, aged 30 said "I've seen many versions of The Wizard of Oz because it is my favourite musical and I think Helen Newhall is one of the best Dorothy' I have ever seen." The vocal arrangements and dance routines were created brilliantly by Peter Howard and they both told the story amazingly.

The Wizard of Oz was a brilliant production that everyone who watched it enjoyed. The next show that Leatherhead Operatic Society will be putting on is Kiss Me, Kate.

By Danielle Cunnington, Therfield School.