MAPA Chatham Students Follow the Yellow Brick Road in Their Magical Production of The Wizard of Oz

Young Performers in Chatham Prepare to Bring a Timeless Classic to the Stage

There is a real buzz of excitement at MAPA Chatham as our students rehearse for their spectacular devised production of The Wizard of Oz!

Students from Medway Academy of Performing Arts’ Chatham Academy have been working incredibly hard in preparation for their end-of-year summer performance, developing their singing, dancing and acting skills as they bring this much-loved story to life on stage.

From energetic choreography and memorable songs to character work and storytelling, our talented young performers are pouring their hearts into rehearsals ready to wow parents, carers, friends and family with a magical performance inspired by one of the most iconic musicals of all time.

Performing Arts Classes in Chatham That Inspire Confidence & Creativity

At Medway Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA), we are passionate about giving children and young people opportunities to develop confidence, creativity and lifelong friendships through performing arts.

MAPA Chatham runs every Wednesday from 5pm–8pm at Waterfront UTC, Chatham, offering children and young people aged 3–18 the opportunity to train in:

🎤 Singing

💃 Dancing

🎭 Acting

Students take part in three hour-long specialist classes every week, all taught by experienced, industry-trained teachers who are experts in working with young performers.

Our classes are designed to help students:

✔ Build confidence and self-esteem

✔ Improve communication and social skills

✔ Develop teamwork and collaboration

✔ Build resilience and discipline

✔ Make lifelong friendships

✔ Develop high-quality performing arts skills

The atmosphere at MAPA Chatham is vibrant, welcoming and supportive, and the joy students experience every week is truly contagious. For many children, MAPA becomes a second home and their fellow students become part of their extended MAPA family.

Bringing The Wizard of Oz to Life

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic story and the legendary MGM film adaptation, The Wizard of Oz remains one of the most beloved family musicals ever created.

The original 1939 film famously starred:

⭐ Judy Garland as Dorothy

⭐ Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow

⭐ Jack Haley as the Tin Man

⭐ Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion

⭐ Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West

Featuring unforgettable songs including:

🎵 Over the Rainbow

🎵 Follow the Yellow Brick Road

🎵 We’re Off to See the Wizard

🎵 If I Only Had a Brain

🎵 The Merry Old Land of Oz

MAPA Chatham students have been learning exciting choreography, harmonies, ensemble work and character performances inspired by this magical story.

Our devised version allows students to creatively explore the characters and themes while putting their own unique MAPA spin on this theatrical classic.

Developing Performance Skills Through Rehearsals

Productions like The Wizard of Oz provide children and young people with invaluable opportunities to grow both personally and creatively.

Throughout rehearsals, students have been:

🌟 Learning lines and staging

🌟 Rehearsing vocal harmonies and musical numbers

🌟 Developing acting and characterisation skills

🌟 Building teamwork and ensemble performance techniques

🌟 Growing in confidence with every rehearsal

The process of rehearsing a production teaches students commitment, focus and resilience while helping them feel proud of what they can achieve together.

Watching students encourage and support one another throughout the rehearsal process is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at MAPA.

Exciting Performance Opportunities at MAPA

Performance opportunities are at the heart of the MAPA experience.

All students work towards:

🎭 Our Summer Showcase

🎭 Our Christmas Showcase

Students aged 10 and above are also eligible to audition for MAPA’s hugely popular Summer Youth Musical (SYM) productions.

Following the incredible success of previous productions including Les Miserables: School Edition, MAPA’s Summer Youth Musical 2026 will be Grease the Musical — an exciting opportunity for young performers across Medway and Kent.

These productions give students real theatre experience while helping them develop stage confidence and unforgettable memories.

Why Families Across Medway & Kent Choose MAPA

Families from:

• Chatham

• Rainham

• Gillingham

• Rochester

• Strood

• Faversham

• Wider Medway and Kent

Choose MAPA because we offer more than just performing arts classes.

We provide a welcoming community where children can:

✨ Be creative

✨ Express themselves confidently

✨ Make new friends

✨ Learn valuable life skills

✨ Experience the excitement of live performance

Whether a child dreams of performing professionally or simply wants to grow in confidence and have fun, MAPA offers the perfect environment for them to thrive.

Book a Free Trial at MAPA Chatham

Every new student at Medway Academy of Performing Arts is entitled to a Free Trial, allowing children and parents/carers to experience our classes and discover if MAPA is the right fit for them.

👉 Book your Free Trial today by visiting:https://medwayacademypa.lovable.app/book-trial

Parents and carers can choose to pay for classes monthly or termly, one month in advance, with many families preferring the flexibility of monthly payments.

Join the MAPA Family Today

As MAPA Chatham students continue following the yellow brick road towards their exciting summer performance, we could not be prouder of the dedication, creativity and enthusiasm they show every single week.

At MAPA, we don’t just teach Singing, Dancing and Acting — we help children discover confidence, creativity and a lifelong love for performing arts.

✨ If your child loves to perform, create and shine on stage, book a Free Trial and become part of the MAPA family today. ✨