Behind the gingham and those ruby slippers, there's some serious girl power waiting to be clicked into action.

Seventeen-year-old Tina Kerton from Lordshill is playing the lead role of Dorothy in the Performing Arts Company's (PAC) version of Wizard of Oz and is determined to make her character a little more modern and a lot less girly.

"I still like the traditional Dorothy," says Tina, who is studying for an A-level in Performing Arts and Drama at Barton Peveril in Eastleigh, "but I have made her character a bit tougher and more forceful in order to give the role my own stamp."

Tina, who has been with PAC for two years, beat competition from five other girls to take the title role.

"I loved the film when I was a child and always imagined myself playing Dorothy," says Tina.

The musical follows the story of a girl from Kansas city who gets whisked off in a whirlwind to a magical land full of munchkins, witches and an almighty wizard. It includes all the well-known songs from the film including Somewhere Over the Rainbow and We're Off to See the Wizard, plus some lesser-known songs that only feature in the stage version.

"My favourite is Evening Star, which doesn't feature in the film. It's a lovely song that I sing with the rest of the female cast," adds Tina.

Eastpoint Centre, Thornhill from Wednesday to Saturday December 11.