OKLAHOMA

The stage coach rumbled into town and all over the region the sound of enthusiastic Yee-haa!s was heard from our most prominent theatres.

Following on from their hugely successful production of ‘West Side Story’, the Earthbeat Theatre Company (for adults with learning difficulties) delighted audiences with their vibrant and exhilarating version of ‘Oklahoma!’

The show was 18 months in the making and included all the big numbers – ‘Oh, what a beautiful mornin’, 'Surrey with Fringe on top’ and, of course, ‘Oklahoma!’ Most of the lavish costumes were hand-made and were complemented by spectacular scenery.

‘We’ve staged some good shows in the past,’ said director, Tony Galuidi, ‘but this one was the best so far. Our cast were really revved up for some amazing performances and no one left the theatre without having been truly uplifted. When our performers walk onto a stage something magical happens – it really does. But don’t take my word for it...’

The Oklahoma bandwagon rolled into Middlesbrough Theatre on the 25th and 26th of March 2004 and finished by lifting the roof off Darlington Civic Theatre on 23rd April 2004.