CONFIDENCE and self belief are on a tightrope in childhood, especially the teenage years.

So what better choice of musical could there be for the Grand Opera House Summer Youth Project than The Wizard Of Oz, that wonderful journey into self discovery on the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion.

Simon Barry, directing the summer project in York for the third year, says: "A theatre project like this covers things that a school does not address: things like confidence building, when schools can be confidence destroying."

Next week's production of The Wizard Of Oz will involve more than 100 participants, aged seven to 21, on stage and backstage and in the orchestra pit. More than 80 will be performing, led by Twinnie -Lee Moore in her first lead role for the summer project.

Twinnie-Lee, from Haxby Road, York, is 16 and has left the Joseph Rowntree School this summer to pursue her stage ambitions. After studying under the evergreen Isobel Dunn in York, she is to attend Phil Winston's Theatre Works in Blackpool, on a three-year theatre choreography course.

She had auditioned for three dance and drama schools and been offered a place at each and yet Twinnie-Lee was still "really surprised" to land the role of Dorothy this summer. "I just thought I was going to be too tall for Dorothy," says the willowy Twinnie-Lee. "That's why I was thinking of auditioning for another role."

Simon joins in: "She had auditioned for the lead for the past two years and had just missed out, and this year she nearly didn't audition because she didn't think she would get it... but when you hear her sing and you hear her speak with a Mid Western American accent, then there was only one choice for the role."

In Oliver! in 2001 Twinnie-Lee had hoped to play Nancy but was selected for Bet; last year, she had her eye on Miss Hannigan but Simon cast her as Lilly, "the one with the really shrill Brooklyn accent".

"Twinnie-Lee is a prime example of how you can progress. It's the simple thing sometimes that make you miss out on a role, like being too tall or too small or whatever, but don't ever give up," says Simon.

Twinnie-Lee says: "It's about confidence. You have to get used to being with everybody, get used to using an accent and to working on a production from ten till five each day, and the main thing, I think, is learning to let go and relax."

Simon, who also directs the Grand Opera House pantomime, revels in watching the strides made by his young charges. "The ability range is vast, but it doesn't matter what their level of ability is at the start: I'm pleased if they each have improved and enjoyed learning. Theatre is a fun way to learn," he says.

"Everyone here has a talent and it's our job to bring that talent out." The Wizard himself surely would be nodding in agreement.

The Wizard Of Oz runs at the Grand Opera House, York, from August 5 to 9. Performances start at 7.30pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 2.30pm, Wednesday, Saturday. Tickets: £6 to £9.50; ring 01904 671818 or 0870 606 3595.

Updated: 09:06 Friday, August 01, 2003