Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Southbrook Group Limited and Stage Entertainment UK, announced today full casting for the national tour of Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Lionel Bart's smash hit musical OLIVER!, opening at Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff on 20 December 2011, with previews from 10 December 2011.
Samantha Barks will star as ‘Nancy', Iain Fletcher as ‘Bill Sikes', JaCK Edwards as ‘Mr Bumble', Suzie Chard as ‘Widow Corney', Stephen Moore as ‘Mr Brownlow', David Langham as 'Mr Sowerberry', C J Johnson as ‘Mrs Sowerberry', Stevie Hutchinson as ‘Noah Claypole', Emma Dukes as ‘Bet' and Victoria Hay as ‘Charlotte'. They join the previously announced Neil Morrissey and Brian Conley, who will both play the role of ‘Fagin' at different venues (casting per venue detailed below). Samantha Barks will play the role of ‘Nancy' until the end of the Edinburgh run. Further casting for the role to be announced.
Samantha Barks trained at the Arts Educational school for a year before entering "I'd Do Anything", the BBC search for the new ‘Nancy' in Cameron Mackintosh's "Oliver!" where she finished in the top three. Following "I'd Do Anything" she took part in the workshop for Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Love Never Dies". Samantha made her stage debut as ‘Sally Bowles' in the national tour of "Cabaret", before taking the classic role of ‘Aladdin' in "Aladdin" at the Theatre Royal Windsor. Last year Samantha made her West End debut in the role of ‘Eponine' in "Les Misérables", and played the role again in the "Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert" at The O2. Television credits include the lead role of ‘Zoe' in the Disney TV series "Groove High".
Iain Fletcher is probably best known as ‘DC Rodney Skase' in the long-running TV series "The Bill", a role which he played for 9 years. Other television credits include "Casualty", "Murphy's Law", "Doctors", "Family Affairs" and "Band of Brothers". Theatre credits include ‘The King' in "The Three Musketeers" at Rose Theatre Kingston, and ‘Sam Carmichael' in "Mamma Mia!" in the West End.
JaCK Edwards most recently played the role of ‘Allardyce' in "Betty Blue Eyes" at the Novello Theatre. Other West End credits include "Sweet Charity" at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and "Guys and Dolls" at the Piccadilly Theatre. Suzie Chard's stage credits include "The Sleeping Beauty" at Theatre Royal Norwich and "Scrooge" at the Southampton Mayflower. Stephen Moore's theatre credits include playing ‘Mr Brownlow' in "Oliver!" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ‘Hector' in "The History Boys" in the West End, and Colonel Pickering in the UK Tour of "My Fair Lady". His many television credits include "Foyle's War", "Mersey Beat" and "The Queen's Nose", and film credits include "The Boat that Rocked", "A Christmas Carol" and "Brassed Off". David Langham's stage credits include the recent UK and International Tour of "Spamalot" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" at the Chichester Festival Theatre. C J Johnson has recently appeared in "The Three Musketeers" at the Rose Theatre Kingston and "Lend Me a Tenor" at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. West End credits include "Piaf", "Rent" and "The Woman in White". Stevie Hutchinson's West End credits include "Billy Elliot", "Hairspray" and "High School Musical". Emma Dukes' recent roles include ‘Penny Pingleton' in the UK Tour of "Hairspray" and ‘Kelsi' in the UK Tour of "High School Musical 2". West End credits include covering and played the roles of ‘Eponine' and ‘Cosette' in "Les Misérables". Victoria Hay most recently appeared in "Betty Blue Eyes" at the Novello Theatre. Other recent credits include the UK Tours of "The Witches of Eastwick" and "Oklahoma!".
