Sian Brooke revealed as Southbank Centre’s Dorothy

Published Thursday 5 June 2008 at 15:50 by Alistair Smith

Sian Brooke is to star as Dorothy in the Southbank Centre’s forthcoming musical theatre version of The Wizard of Oz.

She will appear alongside Adam Cooper as the Tin Man, Roy Hudd as the Wizard of Oz, Julie Legrand as the Wicked Witch of the West, Hilton McRae as the Scarecrow and Gary Wilmot as the Cowardly Lion.

The production, which will run at the venue from July 23 to August 31, marks the first time in more than 20 years that a major production of The Wizard of Oz has been staged in London.

Based on the classic 1939 film, the show will feature live music from a 20-piece band, including Arlen and Harburg’s classic songs Somewhere Over The Rainbow, We’re Off to See The Wizard and Follow The Yellow Brick Road.

Brooke has previously appeared on TV in The Commander, Midsomer Murders and The Fixer.

Her theatre work includes The Birthday Party at Lyric Hammersmith, In the Club at Hampstead Theatre and Dying City, Harvest, Just a Bloke and The One With the Oven at the Royal Court. Royal Shakespeare Company productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear and Poor Beck.

The Southbank Centre show will be directed by Jude Kelly, the venue’s artistic director. Kelly previously directed a production of The Wizard of Oz at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2002.