Principal casting has been announced for the upcoming Mayflower Summer Youth Project production of Oliver! which runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August. Thomas Norman from Romsey plays the title role of Oliver, Sam Wood from Fareham plays Fagin, Georgia Carr from Sholing will play Nancy and Charlie Steggall from Winchester will play the Artful Dodger.

Over 380 young local talented performers auditioned back in March for 180 places in this year’s Mayflower Summer Youth Project. The chosen company will be spending two weeks at the end of August rehearsing, with the project culminating in 4 performances of Oliver! on the Mayflower Theatre stage from 28-30 August.

Other principal casting includes, Bet Sadie Levett , Bill Sikes Oakley Marsh, Charlotte Georgina Hendry, Mr Bumble George Shrapnell, Mrs Sowerberry Emily Hindle, Noah Oliver Downer, Mr Brownlow Aiden Hammond and Mrs Bedwin Hannah Hunt.

Upon being told she had been cast as Nancy, Georgia said, “My immediate reaction on being told I had been cast was to cry - with happiness of course! I was then overwhelmed primarily with excitement, and then all the nerves kicked in. I can't stop thinking about the show and cannot wait until it begins”. Sam said, “I know I will learn so much from this experience, and if it is anything like last year's project, it will be one of the most exciting and fun-filled performances of my life, hopefully pushing me on into a career in performing”. Charlie added, “When the director rang to tell me that I was going to be Dodger I could hardly believe it - the standard was so high at the auditions. Once it sank in I was so excited and now I just cannot wait to perform on Mayflower Theatre’s stage in such a brilliant role.”

Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive, Michael Ockwell is directing the project once again and said, “We were delighted by the standard of the young people who auditioned and it made it very difficult to choose the final 180 – we aim to give them all a wonderful experience and a chance to perform on our stage. We want to inspire and develop a love for the performing arts for the young people in our region and I really encourage people to come and see some future stars in the making “.

Dickens’ characters will be brought to life with Lionel Bart’s sensational score featuring classic numbers Consider Yourself, Oom Pah Pah, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, Food Glorious Food, I’d Do Anything and many more.

Fresh from the successes of sell-out production of Bugsy Malone in 2013 and Five of the Best in 2014 the Mayflower production team are planning a show that will have audiences wanting more.

Tickets for Oliver! Fri 28- Sun 30 August 2015 on sale from Mayflower Theatre Box Office tel: 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk. Ovation Restaurant bookings: 02380 711833