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The musical version of The Wizard of Oz, starring the legendary Judy Garland, marks its 85th anniversary in 2024 and – to commemorate that landmark release, the film’s enduring popularity and Garland’s as an LGBT+ icon – we are honouring the significant event with: Over the Rainbow – Celebrating the Friends of Dorothy and Their Allies.

Where the term ‘the friends of Dorothy’ originated to mean gay men, initially, and now the the whole LGBTQIA+ spectrum, is unclear: certainly, gay men were a significant proportion of Garland’s fanbase back in her heyday, while the group of friends she gathered, on the yellow-brick road to Oz, speaks volumes about misfits discovering their found families. Whatever the origins of the phrase, for many The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland carry huge significance and it is to them and their allies that this evening’s entertainment is dedicated. Featuring a performance of Darren Stewart-Jones’ The Judy Monologues, we will wind our way through LGBT+ themes inspired by the movie to celebrate generations of The Friends of Dorothy and those who have supported them over the last 85 years.

Age Suitability 16+