Full company announced for Leeds Playhouse 2023 festive spectacular OLIVER!
Full casting has been announced for Leeds Playhouse’s exciting new in-the-round restaging of Lionel Bart’s magnificent musical masterpiece Oliver!, which plays in the Quarry Theatre from 24 November 2023 - 27 January 2024.
Directed by Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director and Chief Executive James Brining, the cast includes Steve Furst (Matilda, RSC) as Fagin, Jenny Fitzpatrick (Rock of Ages, UK tour) as Nancy, Chris Bennett (Strictly Ballroom, West End/Toronto) as Bill Sikes, and Minal Patel (The Sound of Music, Chichester Festival Theatre) as Mr Bumble.
The adult company will be completed by Zac Adlam, Laura Cairns, Rachel Clare Chan, Rosie Ede, Christopher Glover, Llandyll Gove, Simon Green, Frankie Hart, Danny Lane, Rachel Laurence, Jake Lomas, Martha Pothen, Michaela Stern, Harry Waller, and Scott Waugh.
The trio of actors who will play loveable orphan Oliver are Nicholas Teixeira, 9 from Manchester, Carter-J Murphy, 9 from Manchester, and Theo Wake, 10 from Edinburgh. The skilful, cunning and cheeky The Artful Dodger role will be shared by Ram Narayanan Pisharody, 12 from Hull, Felix Holt, 11 from Sheffield, and Noah Walton, 13 from Stockton on Tees.
They will be joined by a further thirty-two young people: Aness Ahmed, Beatrice Armitage, Cyrus Campbell, Ella Jade Chadwick, Zane Chaba, Ariana Dar, Rose Dawson, Rebecca English, Aaron Fu, Ana Sofia Gutierrez Robson, Fearne Lily I'Anson, Kalil Judge, Shayne M Maphosa, Leo Maurice, Oliver Maurice, Amelia Minto, Jenson Lee McMaster, Jett Moises, Karis Musongole, Kayleen Nguema, Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor, Maxwell Paton, Robyn Pennington, Alexa Raja, Reggie Rollins, Jessica Russell, Hugh Jack Ryan, Porscha Mai Staniford, Tommy Thompson, Maddison Thew, Raine Williamson, and Buster Wolfenden.
Completing the creative team are set and costume designer Colin Richmond, choreographer Lucy Hind, musical supervisor Toby Higgins, lighting designer Guy Hoare, sound designer Richard Brooker, musical director Luke Holman, orchestral manager Knoetics Music, children’s casting directors Keston & Keston, and casting director Annelie Powell.
Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining said: “Oliver! is a big, bold, beautiful show loved by millions and I am delighted to have this opportunity to bring it to Leeds for the festive season at the Playhouse. We have a hugely talented company and I’m looking forward to them sharing their skills and passion for this story with audiences. Set Designer Colin Richmond and the production teams here at the Playhouse will be transforming the Quarry theatre into a theatre-in-the-round so everyone in the auditorium is connected to the theatrical experience. Oliver! has captivated generations through its journey from book, to film, to hit West End musical, and even as a search-for-a-star reality TV show. Now, it’s coming to Leeds, and I can’t wait for this next chapter in its history.”
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