THERE’S no place like Stourport in this year’s Areley Kings Players’ pantomime The Wizard of Oz.

The theatre group will be following the yellow brick road at the Areley Kings Village Hall from next Friday.

The show has been written specifically for the group and is loosely based on the iconic 1939 Hollywood movie starring Judy Garland.

It is a traditional pantomime with lots of songs and jokes, together with the characters from the original film.

The story follows Dorothy and her little dog Toto, from Kansas on her quest to find the Wizard of Oz to help her return home. On her way, she meets various friends who all need the wizard’s help.

The Tin Man needs a heart, the lion needs courage and the scarecrow needs a brain but their journey is made more difficult by the Wicked Witch of the West.

The cast includes Hannah Peace as Dorothy, Rob Fowler as the Tin Man, Greg Bytheway as the Cowardly Lion, Holly Ashley as the Scarecrow, Matthew West as the evil flying monkey and Jackie Dickson as the Coroner.

The Areley Kings Players has been treading the boards in Worcestershire since 1982.

The amateur theatre group are family orientated and perform a pantomime each year as well as comedy revues suitable for a more adult audience.

Over the past 30 years, the group has raised thousands of pounds for local good causes.

The performances will take place next Friday at 7.30pm, next Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm and on Friday, March 1 at 7.30pm and Saturday, March 2, at 2pm and 7.30pm.

For more information, call 01299 827389.