Local Youngsters Take Centre Stage at Birmingham Hippodrome with Hip-Hop Dance Company ZooNation

Talented teenagers from across Wolverhampton and Sandwell are being given the opportunity to perform their acclaimed hip-hop version of The Wizard of Oz, Groove on Down the Road, at the Birmingham Hippodrome for three nights from Wed 27 to Fri 29 September.

The show was developed in July 2017 as part of a three week residency working alongside a team from Sadlers Wells' based ZooNation, one of the UK's leading hip-hop dance companies, whose previous productions include the critically acclaimed Into the Hoods, Some Like It Hip Hop and The Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

Set in a fantastical urban world, ZooNation's Groove On Down The Road tells the story of Dorothy and her adventures with Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion on their journey to Oz. The audience join Dorothy, complete with ruby sneakers, and friends in this hip-hop dance production as they follow the yellow brick road in a quest to find happiness and family.

The show was originally written and directed by Kate Prince and commissioned by The Southbank Centre. It was revived with a new cast in Cardiff in 2015; the production includes music from the 1978 film 'The Wiz' remixed by DJ Walde.

The production features a young cast of 24 from four participating schools; Shireland Collegiate Academy in Sandwell, Coppice Performing Arts School, Our Lady & St. Chad Catholic Academy and St Matthias School in Wolverhampton.

Birmingham Hippodrome has a longstanding commitment to engaging with local young people, through its work with schools, colleges and in the wider community and has worked with Shireland Collegiate Academy for over two years to develop its Thursday after-school musical theatre club and more recently Saturday Morning club. Shireland students have also been given the opportunity to showcase their work at a number of special events and festivals at the theatre including Dance Sampled, B-Side Hip-Hop Festival and U-Dance - the national Youth Dance Festival for the UK - which was hosted by the Hippodrome for the first time in July this year.

Shireland Collegiate Academy are one of ten schools who make up the Hippodrome's new Schools Network (HEN). The network - which has been successful in receiving funding of £70,000 over two years from Arts Connect - comprises of a mix of primary, secondary and special schools selected from areas in the city-region where there is higher than average levels of multiple deprivation and/oR Lower levels of arts engagement. The network aims to develop a creative curriculum built on transformational learning projects and additional enrichment opportunities that will benefit the whole school community.

Commenting on the production, the show's director, Rhimes Lecointe, explains:

'The response from the audience when we premiered the show at the Arena theatre was amazing and the quality and enthusiasm these young people have shown has been extraordinary. This project has enabled us to work with some incredibly talented young people and seeing their development in the short space of time we've been in rehearsals, has been an absolute delight. We are thrilled to be showcasing the work at Birmingham Hippodrome which has such a strong reputation for dance.'

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome added:

'The West Midlands is brimming with young creative talent and we see this all the time in our work with schools, colleges and the community here at Birmingham Hippodrome. Recently local young people have performed with us in shows like Fagin's Twist and The Red Shoes Curtain Raiser whilst events such as B-Side Hip-Hop Festival, Dance Sampled and U-Dance - the national Youth Dance Festival for the UK - have seen a vibrant explosion of young dance talent across our surrounding streets and stages. Through our work with world-renowned dance companies like ZooNation, we're thrilled to be nurturing the dance talent of the future whilst also encouraging young people, from all kinds of backgrounds to enjoy and take advantage of our world-class facilities and to express themselves through dance'.

The project was supported by Wales Millennium Centre, Arts Council England, The University of Wolverhampton and Children in Need as part of an ambitious programme to encourage progression and develop dance talent in the region.

Groove On Down The Road runs until Fri 29 Sep in The Patrick Centre. For tickets, call 0844 338 5000 or visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com for details.

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