Wizard show launches Hartlepool school's new building

Pupils at a Hartlepool school have been Over the Rainbow to produce its first show in their new home.
Cast members of Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz.Cast members of Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz.
Cast members of Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz.

Manor Community Academy presented The Wizard of Oz as the first musical production in its new building.

The show had a lot to live up to after the sell-out success of last year’s performance of Annie.

Munchkins from Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz. Picture by FRANK REIDMunchkins from Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz. Picture by FRANK REID
Munchkins from Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz. Picture by FRANK REID
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Unusually, this year’s lead roles were all Year 11 pupils, with a supporting cast of 70 pupils from Years 7-11 and dancers aged 8-11 from Manor’s partner primary schools.

Olivia Crawford, who recorded a fund-rasing song for Bradley Lowery as part of ‘Liv n G’ with sister Georgia Fletcher, took the lead role in the five sell-out performances.

She and Toto were joined on the trip to the Emerald City by Sophie Burmiston as the Scarecrow, Nathan Jukes as the Cowardly Lion and Matthew Short as the Tin Man, while Tamsin Ballingall was the Wicked Witch of the West and Keaton Bentham played the title role.

Acadmey director Ellie Hopwood was delighted with the hard work of the performers and the end result.

Cast members of Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz. Back row:  Wicked Witch (Tamsin Ballingall), Aunt Em (Hannah Walker Tonks), Uncle Henry (Joel Dawson), Good Witch (Ellie Brookes)
Middle row: Snow Witch (Jessica Thomas)
Front row: Scarecrow/Alice (Sophie Burmiston), Lion/Zeke (Nathan Jukes), Dorothy (Olivia Crawford), Tin Man/Hickory (Matthew Short), Professor Marvel/Wizard (Keaton BenthamPicture by FRANK REIDCast members of Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz. Back row:  Wicked Witch (Tamsin Ballingall), Aunt Em (Hannah Walker Tonks), Uncle Henry (Joel Dawson), Good Witch (Ellie Brookes)
Middle row: Snow Witch (Jessica Thomas)
Front row: Scarecrow/Alice (Sophie Burmiston), Lion/Zeke (Nathan Jukes), Dorothy (Olivia Crawford), Tin Man/Hickory (Matthew Short), Professor Marvel/Wizard (Keaton BenthamPicture by FRANK REID
Cast members of Manor Community Academy production of The Wizard Of Oz. Back row: Wicked Witch (Tamsin Ballingall), Aunt Em (Hannah Walker Tonks), Uncle Henry (Joel Dawson), Good Witch (Ellie Brookes) Middle row: Snow Witch (Jessica Thomas) Front row: Scarecrow/Alice (Sophie Burmiston), Lion/Zeke (Nathan Jukes), Dorothy (Olivia Crawford), Tin Man/Hickory (Matthew Short), Professor Marvel/Wizard (Keaton BenthamPicture by FRANK REID
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The cast have worked extremely hard and are incredibly talented,” she said.

“It is exciting to have such an amazing and colourful show to introduce our new theatre to the audience and demonstrate just what The Academy at Manor is about.

“We have pupils from all year groups in the show and watching how they work together and help each other out as well as developing their performance skills is fantastic’.

As well as the talent on stage, the show also required detailed stage makeup to help bring the characters to life.

Professional make-up artist Rebecca Davies returned to her old school to create some weird and wonderful designs as well as hopefully inspiring some of the cast to follow in her footsteps.