RUNNING repairs to the Phee Broadway Theatre and the Castlemaine Town Hall has allowed one theatre group to get very creative.
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Left without a stage, the Castlemaine Youth Theatre has been given a large space at the Old Woollen Mill in Walker Street for it's re-imagined production of The Wizard of Oz.
Castlemaine Youth Theatre Facilitator Kirstie Babbage said the group had hired sets from Bendigo Theatre Company for the show.
"The factory itself has different buildings, so we have a huge empty shed," she said.
"We hired the two-story set that BTC used for Chicago that features an amazing set of spiral staircases.
"It's been really daunting but we have taken a leap of faith and are trusting in that magic that tends to happen with projects like this."
Ms Babbage said there was an option to move to The Capital theatre in Bendigo but that the logistics in moving transporting the cast and crew up and back was too much.
"It's disappointing we won't be on a theatre stage but it's still an amazing opportunity," she said.
The children involved with Castlemaine Youth Theatre are aged between 11 and 15. As a group they have re-imagined The Wizard of Oz.
It's been really daunting but we have taken a leap of faith and are trusting in that magic to happen.
- Kirstie Babbage
When video gamers Ollie and Alex find themselves in their Wizard of Oz video game after a freak storm, they are forced to gather together the characters and complete the game in order to return.
The Cowardly Lion, full of courage, is now an action star, the Tin Man is a poet and romantic dreamer who falls in love with everyone he meets and the Scarecrow is a scientist.
Ms Babbage said the children had spent most of the year developing the script and characters.
"(The show) came from exploration of the characters. It has been incredible and constantly surprising what the kids have came up with," she said.
"There is a lot of improvised stuff that didn’t make it to show but you see the world through the cast's eyes. Some of the scenes are quite incredible and so funny."
"Most of the group have been together for three years and some started this year."
Castlemaine Youth Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz is on at the Old Woollen Mill in Walker Street, Castlemaine (opposite the botanic gardens).
The show is on Saturday, November 22, at 3pm, Friday, November 28, at 7pm and Saturday, November 29 at 3pm.
Tickets are $15 (family tickets $40) and are available from the Castlemaine Videoland in Mostyn Street, Castlemaine or online at www.trybooking.com
