TAYLORIAN Productions will be staging The Wizard of Oz at the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, in August.

With a brand new production of the show premiering at the London Palladium in March - produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright  - Taylorian Productions is delighted to have been granted permission to perform the Royal Shakespeare Company version of the show as its 2011 production.

Producer Matthew James said: "We are incredibly excited to be presenting The Wizard of Oz for the stage and re-telling this classic family story.

"All the favourite characters and iconic moments will be there and it will have a fresh and contemporary look."

Based upon the classic film, the production contains songs such as Somewhere Over The Rainbow, We're Off To See The Wizard (Follow The Yellow Brick Road), The Jitterbug and If Only I had a Heart.

Auditions to find out who will step into the coveted ruby slippers of Dorothy, the role immortalised by Judy Garland, will take place from February 18 to 20, as will auditions for children with places for 32 youngsters up for grabs.

As the company has also been awarded the pantomime for Christmas 2011, Taylorian will also audition children to take part in Dick Whittington in December.

Resident director John Cumberlidge said: "It's a wonderful opportunity for children in the Isle of Man, regardless of whether they've been involved in the theatre before.

"We're looking to audition two teams of children, boys and girls, for both shows.

"Some may be in one, some may be in both, but either way we want the children to really feel part of the company."

The children must be no taller than 4 ft 10.

Auditions will be held at the Manx Operatic Society rehearsal rooms in Finch Road, Douglas, starting with a welcome introduction meeting at 7pm on Friday, February 18.