Samantha Barks, Iain Fletcher to Lead OLIVER! UK Tour

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!".

The company also includes Lincoln Hudson, James Gant, Hadrian Delacey, Joe Maxwell, Kade Ferraiolo, Lee Dillon-Stuart, Matt Harrop, Ryan O'Gorman, Annie Wensak, Kara Lane, Claire Parrish, Alison Connell, Sophie Caton, Beth Davies, Mikaela Newton, Paul Farrell, Nicholas Duncan, Sarah Cortez, and Mary Fox.

The sensational score of OLIVER! is full of Lionel Bart's irresistible songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I'd Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah and As Long As He Needs Me.

OLIVER! recently completed a two year run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London where it opened to rave reviews, sell-out business and the biggest advance sales of all time for a West End show. Last year, OLIVER! celebrated its 50th birthday, having premiered in the West End in 1960.

www.oliverthemusical.com

2011/2012/2013 NATIONAL TOUR

10 DECEMBER 2011 - 21 JANUARY 2012
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE CARDIFF
Neil Morrissey as Fagin
Box Office 02920 63 64 64 www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

25 JANUARY - 10 MARCH 2012
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
Neil Morrissey as Fagin
Box Office 0844 847 2295 - www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

13 MARCH - 21 APRIL 2012
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
Neil Morrissey as Fagin - 13 March - 1 April 2012
Brian Conley as Fagin - 3 - 21 April 2012
Box Office 0844 338 5000 www.birminghamhippodrome.com
ON SALE NOW

1 - 26 MAY 2012
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER
Brian Conley as Fagin
Box Office 02380 711 811- www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

30 MAY - 23 JUNE 2012
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
Brian Conley as Fagin
Box Office 0844 847 1660 - www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

3 JULY - 4 AUGUST 2012
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
Brian Conley as Fagin
Box Office 01603 630 000 - www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

7 AUGUST - 8 SEPTEMBER 2012
PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL
Brian Conley as Fagin
Box Office 01752 267 222 - www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE WINTER 2011

12 SEPTEMBER - 3 NOVEMBER 2012
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL
Brian Conley as Fagin
Box Office 0844 8112 121- www.theatreroyal.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

6 NOVEMBER - 8 DECEMBER 2012
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
Neil Morrissey as Fagin
Box Office 0844 848 2706 - www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
ON SALE JANUARY 2012

12 DECEMBER 2012 - 12 JANUARY 2013
DUBLIN GRAND CANAL THEATRE
Neil Morrissey as Fagin
Box Office 0818 719 377 - www.grandcanaltheatre.ie
ON SALE JANUARY 2012

15 JANUARY - 2 MARCH 2013
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
Neil Morrissey as Fagin
Box Office 0844 871 3012- www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk
ON SALE SOON