THIS is the third year of the Grand Opera House Summer Youth Project and this time there are more than 100 travellers on the Yellow Brick Road to self discovery and a sense of fulfilment.

Around 80 are on stage, their ages ranging from seven to 21, and the rest are involved either in the orchestra pit or backstage, and you can truly sense they are having a wizard time in the company of the Wizard.

Director Simon Barry says what matters most is that everyone improves during the summer project, no matter their level of talent or experience - and enjoy the learning process too.

"Theatre is a fun way to learn," he enthuses, and that enthusiasm is transferred to the young performers. They combine team work - so essential when the Grand Opera House stage is not the most spacious in the world - with a relish for the chance to shine individually.

Twinnie-Lee Moore, who is to study dance and musical theatre at Phil Winslow's Theatreworks in Blackpool from September, is testament to talent being nurtured under Barry's tutelage (and that of venerable dance teacher Isobel Dunn too).

Twinnie-Lee has risen from principal roles in Oliver! in 2001 and Annie last year to play the lead, Dorothy, and she displays supremely confident skills in stage movement; her Kansas accent is spot-on too, and once her voice fully warms up after her first Over The Rainbow, she sings with expression albeit in the modern pop style that might better suit The Wiz.

If Twinnie-Lee has the most developed all-round stage craft in the company, there are displays of warmth and humour and engaging personality from Leon Thompson's Scarecrow and Donna Preston's Cowardly Lion.

Thompson has hopes of auditioning for drama college as a mature student. On the evidence of his Scarecrow he should walk in: Thompson lifts the production as soon as he makes his entry, and with his rubbery legs, ever mobile face and ability to respond to all around him, he has a natural comic talent. Preston is studying Performing Arts at York College and she brings abundant characterisation to her role.

Sophie Gajewicz has everyone booing at her Wicked Witch; Angie Cape's Tin Man, Grace McCormack's radiant Glinda and Andrew McCarthy's Wizard contribute considerably too, and the singing throughout the company is bright and clear. Only the volume level in the dialogue needs serious attention.

The Wizard Of Oz,

Grand Opera House, Summer Youth Project, York, until Saturday

Box office: 01904 671818

Updated: 12:27 Wednesday, August 06, 2003