Simon Lipkin & Jodie Jacobs to star in Oliver!

Here we go again! Former Rock of Ages co-stars and close friends Simon Lipkin and Jodie Jacobs will star as Bill Sykes and Nancy in Grange Park Opera's production of Oliver! by Lionel Bart.

The show runs at Grange Park between 2nd June and 2nd July 2016.

The cast also includes Simon Keenlyside as Fagin, Wesley Hargreaves as Oliver, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts as Mr. Bumble and Sophie-Louise Dann as Widow Corney.

Interview: Oliver Boot, starring as Bill Sikes in Oliver! at the Leicester Curve

Oliver Boot is currently playing Bill Sikes in Paul Kerryson’s production of Oliver! by Lionel Bart at the Leicester Curve.

A few of Oliver’s theatre credits include: Richard II, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & King Lear (all Globe), Piaf (Curve), Othello (Cheek by Jowl) and The Lady From The Sea (Birmingham Rep). 

On screen he has appeared in Blooded, John Carter, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, As If, The Time of Your Life, Hotel Babylon, Distant Shores, Garrow’s Law and My Family. 

I recently spoke to Oliver about why Bill Sikes has always been one of his dream roles, his interpretation of the character plus why variety has played such an important part in his career… 

Oliver! is completely different to everything else you have been up to recently, was Bill Sikes a role you were immediately drawn to playing?

Yes, ever since seeing the 60s film version with Oliver Reed, Bill Sikes has been one of those parts I’ve always wanted to play. Just being asked to audition was a real thrill! And then I was so excited to be offered the role.

Is playing the role living up to your previous expectations?

I’m really enjoying it. I think it would be very easy to walk on stage as a drunken thug and just shout through the whole show, but I don’t believe anybody wakes up in the morning and thinks ‘I’m going to be a bad guy’. Instead people make certain choices and bad decisions which leads them to a dark place. So with Bill I’ve tried to really get beneath his skin and figure out what made him the way he was. 

Review: Oliver! at the Curve Leicester

Oliver! 
Curve Leicester
Reviewed on Tuesday 1st December 2015
★★★

Paul Kerryson's new production of Oliver! makes the perfect festive treat for all the family. The standard of Leicester's Christmas musicals is always high, but never before have I seen such a sturdy set being used for a Curve production - designer Matt Kinley has done a terrific job. 

Casting announced for Oliver! at the Leicester Curve

Casting has been announced for Oliver! at the Leicester Curve.

The production opens on 2nd December 2015 (previews from 27th November) and runs until 16th January 2016. Former artistic director Paul Kerryson will return to the Curve to direct the production.

Peter Polycarpou will star as Fagin alongside Cat Simmons who will play Nancy between 27th November and 2nd January. Laura Pitt-Pulford, who played Maria in Curve’s 2014 Christmas production of The Sound of Music, will take over as Nancy from 4th January for the remainder of the musical's run.  

Review: Oliver! at the Watermill Theatre

Oliver!

Watermill Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 17th August 2015

★★★★

When a show such as Oliver! is produced time and time again things tend to become a little predictable. However, Luke Sheppard's new actor-musician production at the Watermill Theatre brings something different to the table. Not only do the small cast double up as various characters throughout, but they are also constantly picking up countless instruments to accompany themselves.

Interview: Alice Fearn, starring as Nancy in Oliver!

Alice Fearn is starring as Nancy in Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.

The new actor-musician production is directed by Luke Sheppard and runs between 31st July and 19th September 2015. 

Alice was nominated for West End Frame's Understudy of the Year Award in 2014 and 2012 for understudying Christine Colgate & Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy) and Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical (Drury Lane). 

Her theatre credits also include: Rapunzel and understudy Cinderella in Into The Woods (Regent’s Park), understudy Dolly in Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic), Princess Aurora in Awaking Beauty (Stephen Joseph Theatre), understudy Fantine and Cosette in Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre) and understudy Laura Fairlie in Woman In White (Palace). 

On screen Alice appeared in Tom Hooper’s film adaptation of Les Miserables whilst her workshop credits include: Hannah Brown in Easter Parade (ATG/ Jerry Mitchell) and Shazzer in Bridget Jones The Musical (Working Title/Julian Webber).

I recently spoke to Alice about why she was surprised to be cast as Nancy, how it feels to be taking on such an iconic role, her time in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and being woken up by fourteen geese every morning…

Was Nancy ever one of those roles you had your eye on?

Well it’s funny, I think they’ve always cast it differently – especially since they did the TV show a few years ago. I always sort of thought they weren’t really casting as me, they were either going a bit younger to get some innocence across or previously in the 90s they went much, much older. I sort of thought ‘maybe they’re just not ever going to cast it like the film’ because I consider myself to be a bit more like the film version than anything else. So I was actually quite shocked when I got it! I didn’t think this was ever going to happen! But when you get it and start singing it and start playing it you go ‘actually it’s very you and now you can get your teeth into it’. I actually do feel like it’s very me.

Alice Fearn to star as Nancy in Oliver!

Alice Fearn will star as Nancy in Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury this summer. The new actor-musician production will be directed by Luke Sheppard.

The full cast also includes: Ashley Artus (Fagin), Kit Orton (Bill Sikes), Tomm Coles (Mr Sowerberry), Rachel Dawson (Bet), Joey Hickman (Noah), Deborah Hewitt (Charlotte), Graham Lappin (Mr Bumble), Rhona McGregor (Mrs Sowerberry), Susannah Van Den Berg (Widow Corney) and Steve Watts (Mr Brownlow).

The Watermill's professional company will be joined by three teams of aspiring young performers from the local community, as part of the theatre's ongoing commitment to develop and nurture emerging talent. Oliver will be played by Thomas Kerry (aged 11), Arthur Burdess (aged 9) and Raiko Gohara (aged 12).

Luke Sheppard to direct actor-musician production of Oliver! at the Watermill

Luke Sheppard will direct an actor-musician production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury this summer.

The show opens on 6th August (previews from 31st July) and runs until 19th September 2015. Tickets are on sale from 27th April.

Based on Charles Dickens' novel, Bart’s musical opened in the West End in 1960, ahead of its Broadway première in 1963. It has since been adapted for the screen, winning six Academy Awards, and has enjoyed major revivals in both the UK and the US, with the last London revival breaking box office records for the largest advance sales in history.

Leicester Curve to stage Oliver! this Christmas

It has been announced that the Leicester Curve Theatre will stage a revival of Oliver! this Christmas.

The production will open on 2nd December 2015 (previews from 27th November) and run until 16th January 2016. Tickets go on general sale on 15th April. Former artistic director Paul Kerryson will return to the Curve to direct the production.

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Lionel Bart’s musical opened in the West End in 1960, ahead of its Broadway première in 1963 where it won the Tony Award for Best Original Score. It has since been adapted for the screen, winning six Academy Awards, and has enjoyed major revivals in both the UK and the US, with the last London revival breaking box office records for the largest advance sales in history.

Tom Edden, Hayley Gallivan & Ben Richards to star in Sheffield Crucible's Oliver

Full casting has been announced for a production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The production, which runs between 29th November 2013 and Sat 25th January 2014, will star many West End favourites including Tom Edden (Fagin), Hayley Gallivan (Nancy) and Ben Richards (Bill Sikes, pictured right).

The cast also includes: Georgie Ashford (ensemble), Kathryn Barnes (ensemble), Andrew Bryant (Noah Claypole), Nick Butcher (ensemble), Adam Dutton (ensemble), Emilie Fleming (Charlotte Sowerberry), Bob Harms (Dr Grimwig), Victoria Hinde (Assistant Choreographer and ensemble), Kiara Jay (ensemble), Rebecca Lock (Widow Corney), David Mara (Mr Brownlow), Myra McFadyen (Old Sally), Rachel Moran (Bet), Harry Morrison (ensemble), James O’Connell (ensemble), David Phipps-Davis (Mr Bumble), Adam Rhys Charles (ensemble), Liza Sadovy (Mrs Sowerberry/Mrs Bedwin) and Chris Vincent (Mr Sowerberry). 

Theatre Gossip: Samantha Barks to star in Broadway revival and new film adaptation of Oliver!?

According to the Daily Mail, Cameron Mackintosh wants to make another film adaptation of Lionel Bart's Oliver!, following the success of Tom Hooper's Les Miserables film adaptation, which has officially surpassed the $400 million mark in worldwide sales, making it the second highest-grossing movie musical of all time. It is rumoured that Cameron wants Stephen Daldry to direct the film.

It is also rumoured that Samantha Barks, who appeared as 'Eponine' in the Les Miserables film and recently finished playing Nancy in the UK tour of Oliver!, is in the spotlight to play Nancy in the possible film adaptation. However, the Daily Mail also reports that Cameron Mackintosh is looking to stage a revival of Oliver! on Broadway with Samantha starring as Nancy before the film adaptation is made!

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Oliver! premiered in the West End in 1960, directed by Peter Coe and featuring Ron Moody as Fagin, Georgia Brown as Nancy and Keith Hamshere as Oliver. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1963 at the Imperial Theatre, with Bruce Prochnik as Oliver, Georgia Brown, reprising her West End role as Nancy, and Clive Revill as Fagin. The Broadway production received 10 Tony nominations. It was revived very shortly after in 1965, and then again in London in 1977. The subsequent London revival in 1983-produced by Mackintosh-transferred to Broadway in 1984, starring Patti LuPone alongside Ron Moody. Mackintosh then produced another revival in 1994, directed by Sam Mendes, leading up to the most recent 2009 record breaking revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane which starred Jody Prenger as Nancy and Rowan Atkinson as Fagin.

Neil Morrissey returns to Oliver UK tour to play Fagin

Neil Morrissey will play the role of ‘Fagin’ for the final week of the Newcastle run  of  the currently UK tour of Oliver!. His short run will begin Monday 29th October and end Saturday 3rd November 2012. Brian Conley’s final performance in the role will be on Saturday 27 October. Oliver! has becomes a box office smash at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle and had added an extra matiness, due to public demand. 

Neil Morrissey played ‘Fagin’ when the tour opened in Cardiff in December 2011. He also played the part in Manchester and Birmingham, sharing the run with Brian Conley. Morrissey was due to return to the role after the Newcastle run, but now takes over for the final week.

Rowan Atkinson is set to return to the West End - hooray!

It has been revealed that Rowan Atkinson is returning to the West End early next year to play the title role in a revival of Simon Gray's Quartermaine's Terms and I cannot describe in words how much this news excites me! Prior to opening in the West End the play will complete two short short runs at the The Theatre Royal Brighton from the 8th – 12th January 2013 and the Theatre Royal Bath from the 14th - 19th January 2012. The play will then begin previewing in the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre from the 23rd January 2013 until the official opening on Tuesday 29th January 2012.

Set in the 1960s in an English language school for foreigners, Gray's 1971 play is a humorous and poignant account of several years in the lives of seven teachers. At the heart of the group is St John Quartermaine (Atkinson) – kind, pleasant and agreeable, but utterly hopeless as a teacher. An almost permanent feature in the staff room, he's always available to listen to the problems of his self-obsessed colleagues. But when a new Principal is appointed, Quartermaine’s future looks precarious.

It is almost 25 years since Rowan Atkinson appeared in a play however he was more recently as Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of the musical Oliver. I saw him playing the role and he stole the show. He knew exactly how to make the audience love and really belongs on the stage. I cannot wait to see him in this production, it's nice to see Rowan Atkinson back where he belongs...

The rest of the cast is yet to be announced.