Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo to star in THE WIZARD OF OZ

Eleni Cashell 23 February, 2023, 10:41

There's no place like the London Palladium for Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo, as the pair are starring in the upcoming production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Jason Manford will play The Cowardly Lion, and Diversity star Ashley Banjo is playing The Tin Man.

Playing a strictly limited season at the London Palladium from the 23 June, The Wizard of Oz is a musical based on the legendary L. Frank Baum story.

No stranger to the stage, Jason Manford has already appeared in multiple West End productions and tours, including Sweeney Todd, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Curtains. For five years he was also the host of the Olivier Awards, and later this month, Manford will be hosting BBC One's Big Night of Musicals for the second time.

Making his West End musical debut as The Tin Man, Ashley Banjo is the founder, creative director and choreographer for the dance group Diversity, who won Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Although he's making his West End musical debut, Banjo has previously starred in the Olivier Award-winning production of Dick Whittington and has headlined an additional five productions. He was awarded an MBE in the latest New Years Honours List for his services to dance.

The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium

The production features the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We're Off To See the Wizard. Additional songs have been written by the iconic duo of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Directed by Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot The Musical) The Wizard of Oz has choreography by Shay Barclay, Set Designer is Colin Richmond, Projection Designer is Douglas O’Connell, Costume and Puppet Designer is Rachael Canning, Lighting Designer is Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer is Adam Fisher, Creative Consultant is Mark Kaufman, Musical Director and Musical Supervisor is George Dyer, Casting Director is Kay Magson CDG, Props Supervisor is Marcus Hall Props and Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer is Elizabeth Marini. Further star casting is to be announced.