HUNDREDS of people have a enjoyed a truly ‘wonderful’ school show at Otley.

Prince Henry’s Grammar School presented its big production for the year, The Wiz, over three nights last week.

The ‘super soul musical’ is based on L Frank Baum’s timeless story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Featuring music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, The Wiz - first performed in 1974 - was a reimagining of Baum’s classic which places the action in the context of modern Africa-American culture.

Prince Henry’s delivered its take on the musical to packed audiences on Wednesday, February 5; Thursday, February 6; and Friday, February 7.

The school was delighted to see more than 600 local people turn out to support the production over its three-night run.

The young cast involved in the singing, dancing and playing in the show band delivered a string of standout performances while the students working backstage on lighting and sound produced a fittingly magical environment for the action.

The school also peformed a matinee show for local primary school pupils, after which one audience member declared it to be ‘the best school show I have ever seen’.

The Prince Henry’s cast, drawn from across the school, played a number of iconic characters including Dorothy and her friends Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man; the Munchkins; Evellene; Glinda; and The Wiz.

The numbers performed as the story followed the protagonists on their voyage along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City included I’m a Mean Ole Lion, Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News and Y’all Got It!

Headteacher Janet Sheriff said: “I am so proud of our students and our Performing Arts Team for this superb production of The Wiz.

“Everyone worked so hard to create the evening’s entertainment and the panache with which it was delivered had to be seen to be believed!

“It really was a fantastic show.

“More than one hundred students and staff were involved in the production one way or another, and the teamwork certainly paid off.”