TOE-TAPPING songs, colourful costumes and even more colourful characters are all part of a production of The Wizard of Oz, which opens at Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal this evening.

More than 40 members of the Youth Theatre, aged between nine and 17, have been rehearsing hard for the show, which runs until Saturday, recounting the adventures of Dorothy, the Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow.

"They are all really excited, although there are bound to be some first-night nerves," said director and producer Bridie Hutchinson.

"Some of the cast from Our Day Out in the autumn said they were too scared to go on, but they did a great job in the end.

"I was so proud of them," she said.

The set has been designed and made by the Youth Theatre crew and, although production difficulties have meant the omission of Flying Monkeys, just about every other aspect of the musical is included.

Tickets are priced from £3 and can be booked by calling the box office on (01748) 823021