News

I’d Do Anything finalist Samantha Barks will star as ‘Nancy’ in the new national tour of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! The show enjoyed a record breaking run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane between January 2009 and January 2011 after Sir Cameron Mackintosh decided to produce a version based closely on Sam Mendes’ hit 1994 West End revival. Several famous faces made cameos in the show, including Rowan Atkinson, Russ Abbott, Griff Rhys Jones and Omid Djalili as ‘Fagin’. The cast of the new UK tour includes Neil Morrissey and Brian Conley as Dickens’ favourite villain. Details of the venues they will be appearing at can be found below.

Samantha Barks was a contestant in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 2008 televised talent search for a actress to play ‘Nancy’ in the West End revival of Oliver! She finished in the top three and was soon awarding the lead role of showgirl ‘Sally Bowles’ in the UK tour of Cabaret.  She went on to star as ‘Éponine’ in the London production of Les Misérables in the summer of 2010 and was chosen to play the character in the 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena later that year. She played her final performance in June 2011 and was succeeded by Alexia Khadime (The Lion King and Wicked).

Oliver! will open at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on 10th December 2011 with Neil Morrissey in the role of Fagin. Brian Conley will take over the role from 1st May 2012 when the production arrives in Southampton. Neil Morrissey will then reprise the role from 6th November when the show arrives at Leeds Grand Theatre. The tour ends at the Bristol Hippodrome on 2nd March 2013.