Sheffield Theatres Announces OLIVER! as Christmas Musical

Sheffield Theatres today unveils Lionel Bart's multi award-winning masterpiece, Oliver! as this year's Christmas musical. The production will go on sale to members on Saturday 18 May and to the public on Saturday 25 May, along with four new shows that will visit the Lyceum Theatre next season.

Following on from the success of the critically-acclaimed My Fair Lady, Oliver! will take to the Crucible stage fromFriday 29 November 2013 to Saturday 25 January 2014, twenty years on from Sheffield Theatres' last production of the musical. This new staging will be directed by Artistic Director Daniel Evans, his third musical for the company, following My Fair Lady and This Is My Family, which opens next month.

Based upon the children's novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver! follows the story of an orphan who runs away from a workhouse and falls in with a gang of boys trained to be pickpockets by gang leader, Fagan.

Joining the Creative Team alongside Daniel Evans are Designer Peter McKintosh (Me and My Girl), ChoreographerAlistair David (My Fair Lady), Musical Director Jonathan Gill, Lighting Designer Howard Harrison (Me and My Girl) and Sound Designer Simon Baker (My Fair Lady).

Four new shows are also announced today that will tour to the Lyceum Theatre this autumn. Thriller Live brings to life the sensational dancing and distinctive sound of Michael and the Jackson 5 from Monday 21 - Saturday 26 October, followed by Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Tue 29 October - Sat 2 November), the feel-good international hit sensation, starring Noel Sullivan (Hear Say).

Later in the month, Northern Ballet return with their heart-warming and hugely popular adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, A Christmas Carol (Tue 5 - Sat 9 November) and the festivities continue with Slava's Snow Show from Wednesday 20 - Sunday 24 November; a funny, poignant and spectacular show for all the family.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans said today: 'I'm so excited to be bringing Lionel Bart's Oliver! to the Crucible Stage. Dickens' boldness of characterisation and Bart's music hall score combine to make an intoxicating piece of music theatre. We'll be working with sixty talented children from the city region alongside a cast of 22 professional actors and 15 musicians. So, I hope we can continue to make Sheffield Theatres the place to be at Christmas!'

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