Hundreds of young dancers and stage performers are waiting and hoping to finally get their show onto the Gaiety Theatre stage.

As the island edges closer to the lifting of lockdown restrictions and a return to normality, the team behind a huge theatrical production of a family-favourite have released the latest set of dates for their show.

’The Wizard of Oz’, a large and grand-scale full production of the RSC musical show produced by the Christine Wild Theatre School and Rachel Wild’s Performers Studio, will now open at the Gaiety Theatre on Wednesday, May 19, running until Sunday, May 23.

In a commendable display of hope and perseverance, this is now the sixth set of dates the show has been planned for, after each show was derailed by the recent lockdowns.

They now have their sights fixed on next month and, as director and musical director Rachel Wild said, they are running out of time.

’The connotations of another date change for us are huge,’ said Rachel.

’We are faced with so many factors against us that if we can’t go ahead in May, we’ll have to drastically change our plans.’

The successive lockdowns and delays have led to many issues and problems which go beyond the scheduling of opening nights.

The production was set to use a dazzling LED backdrop as its main set design, which had to come from the UK.

Expecting to be on stage in January, the equipment and operator, Neil Dolman, arrived in the island, only for a three-week circuit-breaker lockdown to be announced as he was in isolation.

He stayed on island for the expected rearranged dates towards the end of March but was forced to return home.

Another difficulty faced is that the company had to reorder and refit many of the cast as they had grown out of their original costumes, having waited for more than 15 months.

Also, each set of new dates meant that more promotional material was needed and then discarded, unused, meaning that the small company have had to shoulder eye-watering costs, running into thousands of pounds.

If that wasn’t enough, many of the older members of the cast are leaving the island later this year, either to work or study in the UK.

Josh Riordan, who plays the Tin Man, is due to move to England the day after the shows are set to finish and, having waited and rehearsed for two years to perform his role, would face missing out on performing should another delay be faced.

’We need to get on and just do it, for the sake of those who have put the work in over the past year and a half,’ said Rachel.

’The kids have been amazing. They have kept on practising at home and over Zoom and their enthusiasm and attitude are incredible, as have been their parents.

’They keep saying "next time" and "just keep going". We are determined to be at the Gaiety on May 19 and we really want to put on a great show that will lift all our spirits.

Details of tickets and times are available online at villagaiety.com