Shazam’s Yellow Brick Road Leads Back to the Stage
A new generation of performers takes the spotlight in this new community-led production.
For Shazam Theatre Company, returning to Aberdeen Arts Centre with The Wizard of Oz this week feels like reclaiming something important. It’s their first junior production on its own since the pandemic, in a space that’s shaped much of their story.
Founded in 2014, Shazam is built around inclusion. There are no auditions, and young people from any background are welcome. Their work reaches across Aberdeen, from regular workshops to sing-alongs in sheltered housing. These small, joyful projects help bring theatre into everyday spaces.
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“This is the first year we’ve been in a position to go back to what we used to do,” said musical director David Small, when I spoke to him about this week’s big production. He was reflecting on a return to their two-show model. “After Covid, we merged our junior and senior groups for a few years, but this year we’ve finally had the cast and resources to split them again.”
A full-circle moment
The choice of The Wizard of Oz was made by the group itself. Unlike other theatre companies that pick shows far in advance, Shazam waits to see who turns up in the autumn. Then they choose something that fits the cast. It means the show is shaped around the performers, rather than the other way round.
“We don’t always do the big showstoppers,” David explained. “We choose what suits the group we have.”
This year’s production feels like a full-circle moment. The company last staged The Wizard of Oz nearly a decade ago at the Tivoli. That move wasn’t planned. As costs rose, Shazam shifted to the Arts Centre, which David describes as a space rooted in community.
“I started at The Arts Centre… it gave me a platform to get onto, to get more well known and to build that experience,” he said. Many cast members have grown up through the Arts Centre, which was once Shazam’s home before their time at the Tivoli. It remains a place where new artists can try things out, develop their skills, and build connections.
Supporting grassroots theatre
Aberdeen Arts Centre plays a vital role in the city’s grassroots theatre scene. For companies like Shazam, it’s a space that nurtures new talent, supports local creatives, and provides a stage for voices that might otherwise go unheard.
Without the Arts Centre, there’s no real provision for growing Aberdeen’s home-grown theatre scene. Other theatres in the city do brilliant work, but they serve different purposes. They don’t offer the same access to space, support, or creative freedom that grassroots companies rely on.
“If the Arts Centre closes, where do companies like ours go?” David asked. “It’s not just about bums on seats for us. It’s a wider picture.”
Making space for community
There’s a strong community thread running through everything Shazam does. They work with partners in regeneration areas to offer discounted tickets. Some young people join thanks to sponsored places. Accessibility is central to their model.
What they hope the cast takes away from this production is more than just a good run. David says it’s about “building skills, confidence, and friendships.” The cast is excited to be back on their own stage. For many, this marks a milestone in their journey.
The Wizard of Oz is on Friday 13 June at 7.30pm and Saturday 14 June at 2pm and 7.30pm. You’ll find the yellow brick road at Aberdeen Arts Centre, where new voices still get their first steps. Get yourself down there, have a great night, and support the next generation of theatre stars. Tickets are available here.
