YOUNGSTERS who had won starring roles in the New Theatre’s Wizard of Oz show were left distraught after it was cancelled in a row over rights.

Two hundred children were to take part in the annual youth musical, and were weeks away from rehearsals.

Theatre bosses claimed they were forced to cancel the show when they were unable to secure the performing rights, although copyright-holder MusicScope said the Oxford production wanted to change conditions accepted by thousands of other organisations.

Hayley Bater, 18, cast as Dorothy, said: “I was completely gutted. We were all really looking forward to it.

“There were a lot of tears. At first it was complete shock.”

Miss Bater, an A-Level student at the School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon, said she had spent hours watching the 1939 Judy Garland film to learn the role.

Her mum Deborah Bater, of West St Helen Street, Abingdon, said: “It was really upsetting. It has really shattered their dreams.”

Abingdon & Witney College student Abigail Payne, of Kidlington, was cast as Glinda The Good Witch.

The 17-year-old said: “I was really upset. To get the role was a real achievement.”

Fellow student Tom Self, also from Kidlington, was cast as the Tin Man. The 16-year-old said: “I was gutted and really disappointed. It would have been a great part to do.”

In February, scores of youngsters, aged eight to 18, queued to audition for the musical.

The New Theatre, in George Street, has put on a musical every summer for the past five years to give youngsters the chance to perform on stage.

Amber Guntrip, 11, of Longleat Close, Banbury, jumped for joy when she won a role in the show after the auditions.

But last night, the Bishop Loveday Primary School pupil said: “I felt quite happy at the auditions but now I feel sad. I was looking forward to it.”

The intensive 10-day rehearsals had been due to start on July 26, with performances from August 6-8.

A spokesman for MusicScope, which holds the amateur performance rights for the show, said New Theatre managers turned down the licence in February because they wanted to alter some of its conditions. She said the negotiations were confidential but added the licence had been used thousands of times in the UK over the past 15 years.

New Theatre spokesman Diana Hackett said: “Live Nation (which leases the Theatre) didn’t reject the performance rights for The Wizard of Oz. We were informed by MusicScope that the offer of the rights had been withdrawn and that if we continued with the show we would be infringing copyright.

“Obviously the children are disappointed and we are disappointed because it is really fun and we do enjoy doing it. It is a big blow for everyone.”

Miss Hackett said ticket sales and £125 participation fees would be refunded.