Joss Wyre and Poppy the dog make their debut in the Wizard of Oz

By [rrothery]

The Wizard of Oz Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple Tuesday July 7 to Saturday July 11, 7.30pm Matinee: Saturday, 2pm

IT'S a double debut for two North Devon actors when The Wizard of Oz plays at the Queen's Theatre this month.

Joss Wyre and Poppy the dog will both be stepping out for the first time in leading stage roles.

Joss, who stars as Dorothy in the show by Braunton Productions, clinched the part after taking part in a TV-style talent competition, which was filmed on the internet. A shortlist of five girls took part in weekly auditions as people across North Devon voted in their hundreds for their favourite Dorothy to win. After a round of auditions, where a girl was eliminated from the competition each week, Joss eventually got the biggest share of the votes and the coveted part.

"It's my first ever big lead," said Joss, who sounds delighted to be following in the red shoes of Judy Garland, who made the role famous in the 1939 film. "I haven't been in anything since I was really young so I am going from nothing to doing this and it's a big challenge."

Equally new to the stage will be Poppy the dog, who plays Dorothy's beloved pet.

"She's really tiny — she's a Yorkshire Chihuahua cross — but after two hours of holding her she gets to feel quite heavy," laughed Joss.

Joss, 23, feels the Find Dorothy competition was a great opportunity for her.

"After doing the Find Dorothy it did give me confidence in rehearsals. I don't think I would have been able to do all these rehearsals otherwise because I haven't had the experience. It's given me a good starting platform."

Challenging and exciting dance routines, choreographed by Sarah King with Hayley Grebby and Stacey Dorman, are certainly keeping her fit.

"The jitterbug is an excellent dance routine and has lots of acrobatics and stuff. It's going to be quite spectacular."

She's also enjoying the challenge of mastering the Kansas accent.

"It's not too difficult. I feel like Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs so I hope it doesn't sound scary. That's who I based my accent around."

So what can we expect from this popular musical masterpiece which promises spectacular staging and beautiful costumes not to mention munchkins and the Wicked Witch of the West?

"Variety," she said. "You get a little bit of everything including tears and laughter."

Box office: 01271 324242.

For further information on becoming a member of Braunton Productions visit the website at www.braunton productions.co.uk.