Writer and director Alex K. Wregg brings his lifelong love of the Oz books by L Frank Baum to life at the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival. His latest imaginative experience Dorothy in Oz is introduced as an experience where guests attend a birthday celebration for Princess Ozma of Oz. I had no idea about what lay ahead in our adventure and the mystery of this added to the suspense.
We started our journey in Kansas, sitting on hay bales and drinking a preshow drink from the bar titled Baum’s Marvellous Medicines – Potions, Tinctures, Remedies. It is here we met Dorothy, played with girlish charm by Bethan Williams. She was the guide that lead us safely into the world of Oz after she suspects a tornado was on the way.
The theme of the different lands where we begin is clear when we step through the tornado tunnel. There are tables beautifully decorated in vibrant colours, representing the different lands. As with all things magical, there were fairy lights adding to the atmosphere. The guests were greeted by The Scarecrow, played by Adam Watt, and we were able to gravitate to whatever table colour we wished to sit at to begin our night. Throughout the performance, Adam maintained the thoughtful and sweet nature of the Scarecrow and deserves a shout out for when he answered some of my questions with quick witted Oz related answers multiple times.
Production designer and build, Paul Bujak created a space that appealed visually and made me want to explore the area (the different lands) immediately! I did go for a wander around when I first came in.
On one wall, there was a poster of Oz, titled “The Marvellous Land of Oz” and it pulled together the five different lands; Winkie Country, Gillikin Country, Munchkin Country, Quadling Country, all of which surrounded the famous Emerald City. Bordered on four sides by the Great Sandy Waste, Shifting Sands, Impassable Desert and Deadly Desert, this map’s artwork was truly beautiful, and I could have studied it for hours.
In dual character roles, Marni Collier played Tip with a light-heartedness zeal and Ozma, and Kirsty McGuire’s performance as Mombi and Glinda made me laugh a few times! The four cast members bounced off each other to keep the flow going throughout the night and were there to support the guests if we got into any confusion about how to solve the given puzzles. There were lots of puzzles to be solved as a team (your country), and this was one of the highlights of the experience! I didn’t find the puzzles too difficult – think Escape Room meets family friendly World of Oz, and you can understand the fun to be had when working together with other people. I was on a table of five, but this number can vary, depending on the number of guests on the night. The puzzles were cleverly thought out to space separately the places where we went to complete the challenges.
Dorothy in Oz, An Immersive Cocktail Adventure, wasn’t your typical sit-down theatre performance. Instead, it was an interactive experience where guests became part of the story. Without giving too much away, it turned out to be a wonderfully fun journey into the Land of Oz that will captivate everyone, from the young to the young at heart. Although it has ‘cocktail’ in the title, the experience also caters for non-drinkers and has family friendly sessions, which will suit younger guests who have curious minds and wonderful imaginations.
If you want a diversion in our busy and hectic world, use your wits then relax with a delectable whisky-based cocktail, transport yourself to Marrickville Town Hall this September! For Sydneysiders, my message borrowed from The Wizard of Oz is “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire, I won’t look any further than my own backyard.” Explore your own backyard and book tickets to this experience, before the tornado hits town!
Season Run: September 3-28, 2025
Venue: Marrickville Town Hall
Run Time: Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes
Tickets: www.dorothyinoz.com
To book tickets to Dorothy In Oz: An Immersive Cocktail Adventure, please visit https://www.dorothyinoz.com/.
Photography: Phil Erbacher
