A new year-long artistic residency and engagement project has been launched in Paisley, which will see people encouraged to participate in an interactive promenade performance of the Wizard of Oz through the streets of the town.
OZ! - A Yellow Brick Road Adventure, will involve the people of Paisley, who are being invited on a creative journey, culminating in a high octane, visually arresting carnivalesque performance weaving through indoor spaces and streets in June 2023.
Over 200 participants, alongside professional actors and artists will be involved in the unique event, the product of collaboration between the National Theatre of Scotland, OneRen, and Renfrewshire Council.
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It will involve contributions from local community groups, including Kibble, The STAR Project – Paisley Men’s Shed, PACE Theatre Company and Art Boss - YOProducers.
The project was launched on Church Hill on Wednesday, June 22 with appearances from co-creative lead artists Cora Bissett and Bex Anson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, and Toto the dog even popped up for a photoshoot on the ‘yellow brick road’.
The project will be based on the ground floor of Paisley Shopping centre on Thursdays and Fridays. Bex and Cora will be hosting workshops in the ‘Emerald Lounge’ where willing participants can get involved.
Speaking about the project, Bex said: “We're connecting with all the grassroots groups that are working here and all the amazing talent in Paisley.
“It’s loosely based on the Wizard of Oz, But it's a very contemporary reimagining that is set in Paisley, starring a local Dorothy and all the actors are going to be Paisley performers.”
Bex and Cora want to connect with local talent to realise their ambitious project.
Bex said: “We want to connect with songwriters, everyone knows there's a great music scene here. So it's really about harnessing all the skill and talent and all the other people that just want to get involved in this exciting promenade event.”
Cora added: “We're really interested in working with other dance groups and the amazing choirs here. There are 14 different dance groups here, we'd love to connect with them and create a big dance and musical show.”
And it’s not just hardened performers that can get involved, all sorts of people are invited to join.
Bex said: “Just come and chat to us, you don't have to be an experienced performer at all.
There's space for everybody. We just want ideas, we want input, even if you don’t know what you’ve got to offer yet, but you want to get involved, just come and meet us.”
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “It’ll be a great event for Paisley, but it’s also about building a critical mass for culture, we're really focused on using culture to regenerate Paisley.”
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