A delightful musical that thrills theatreland every time
Oliver! is based on the 1838 novel by Charles Dickens. The stage musical book, music and lyrics are by Lionel Bart, whose reimagining of the novel premiered at the Wimbledon Theatre in 1960. Audiences went wild and the show hit theatreland with a bang, enjoying a record-breaker of a run. 1963 saw Lionel Bart win the Tony Award for Best Original Score for his work. The show wowed Broadway then took off on a string of major London revivals: 1977 to ‘80, ‘94 to ‘98, 2008 to ‘11 plus a two year UK tour in 2011.

Whether you’ve seen the musical or movie before or not, you’ll recognise the songs. Food, Glorious Food, Consider Yourself and I’d Do Anything are classics, and they’re just the tip of the iceberg in an unforgettable score.

What is Oliver! about?
You’ll meet the orphaned Oliver Twist, who escapes the cruel Victorian workhouse he’s been sent to, hiding in London’s underworld with Fagan the dodgy leader and his gang of young pickpockets. Will he ever find happiness? The Artful Dodger, Nancy, and the boy’s unexpected saviour weave an exciting story that never goes out of date.

The cast and creative team of Oliver!
The cast includes Simon Lipkin (Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q) as Fagin, Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, The Bodyguard) as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell (Henry VI, Wicked) as Bill Sikes, Billy Jenkins (Les Misérables, BBC’s Dodger) as the Artful Dodger and Philip Franks (The Rocky Horror Show, Witness for the Prosecution) as Mr Brownlow.

With a sensational score in store and Matthew Bourne’s fresh choreography to look forward to, it’s tipped to be another West End smash. Bourne, Mackintosh and Sam Mendes (who also reimagined Swan Lake, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins and Edward Scissorhands) originally reinvented Lionel Bart’s classic in 1994 at the London Palladium, and again in 2009 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, upping the ante every time. This time around you can expect an intimate feel to the staging which has been ‘thrillingly designed’ by Lez Brotherston (Fiddler on the Roof, Me and My Girl, Flowers for Mrs Harris).

Oliver! is co-directed by Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy with lighting design by Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs. The sound design is by Adam Fisher, video design by George Reeve, and the original orchestrations by William David Brohn are adapted by Stephen Metcalfe. The music supervision comes from Graham Hurman.

Prepare to experience one of the greatest musicals of all time as Oliver! makes a return to the West End, packed with a compelling narrative, iconic songs, and lively choreography.