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The Wizard of Oz, starring The Vivienne and Gary Wilmot, is coming to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury

05:00, 31 January 2024

Audiences will be transported over the rainbow and into the technicolour world of Oz as a nostalgic theatre production comes to Kent.

The Wizard of Oz, starring RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, will be bringing the Emerald City to Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre for six nights.

RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne will appear as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz. Picture: Marc Brenner
RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne will appear as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz. Picture: Marc Brenner

The show, based on the beloved children’s story by L Frank Baum, comes straight from the London Palladium and is now touring the country.

Drag artist and Dancing on Ice contestant The Vivienne, who first rose to fame by winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, will be taking to the skies as the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Liverpudlian performer has also appeared in shows such as the Great British Sewing Bee Christmas special, Celebrity Hunted and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

TV host, actor and comedian Gary Wilmot will once again star as The Wizard. Picture: Marc Brenner
TV host, actor and comedian Gary Wilmot will once again star as The Wizard. Picture: Marc Brenner

The touring production also stars TV presenter and acclaimed theatre actor Gary Wilmot.

The You and Me host, who has appeared in stage shows such as Wicked and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, will reprise his role as the Wizard.

Based on the 1900 fantasy novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the story follows Dorothy, a young girl living in Kansas who gets caught up in a tornado and lands in the magical world of Oz.

Dorothy and her dog, Toto, must escape the Wicked Witch of the West and, with the help of the Scarecrow, Tin-Man and Cowardly Lion, find the Wizard who can help her get home.

This production of the Wizard of Oz was recently performed at the London Palladium. Picture: Marc Brenner
This production of the Wizard of Oz was recently performed at the London Palladium. Picture: Marc Brenner

The story became internationally known after the release of the 1939 film, starring Judy Garland.

The film featured innovative use of technicolour and hit songs such as Over the Rainbow, We're Off to See the Wizard, Ding Dong the Witch is Dead and Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

The touring show includes several numbers from the film, as well as a selection of original songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

The show is based on L Frank Baum’s novel and the 1939 Academy Award-winning film. Picture: Marc Brenner
The show is based on L Frank Baum’s novel and the 1939 Academy Award-winning film. Picture: Marc Brenner

The Wizard of Oz will be at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury from Tuesday, February 6 to Sunday, February 11. You can book tickets online here.

You can also book tickets by calling 01227 787787.

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