Cameron Mackintosh’s smash-hit production of Lionel Bart’s musical OLIVER! at the Gielgud Theatre has announced a casting update.
Simon Lipkin (Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q) who plays Fagin in the musical will be away from the show tonight and tomorrow (18 and 19 March 2025), and from 14 to 20 April 2025. His role will be covered by fellow company member Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Mother Goose, Only Fools and Horses The Musical), who stars in the show as Mr. Bumble.
Oliver! announced in January that it was extending at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre, and is now booking to 29 March 2026. Extra Sunday 2.30pm matinee performances have also recently been added to the schedule.
At the weekend (15 & 16 March 2025), Oliver! celebrated its 100th performance in the West End.
Based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver! boasts a much-loved score, including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more.
Oliver! also stars Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, The Bodyguard) as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell (Henry VI, Wicked) as Bill Sikes, Billy Jenkins (Les Misérables, BBC’s Dodger) as the Artful Dodger, Philip Franks (The Rocky Horror Show, Witness for the Prosecution) as Mr. Brownlow, Katy Secombe (The Music Man, Les Misérables) as Widow Corney, Stephen Matthews (Strictly Ballroom, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mr. Sowerberry/Dr. Grimwig, Jamie Birkett (Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Mamma Mia! The Party) as Mrs. Sowerberry/Mrs. Bedwin, and Billy Byers as Alternate Artful Dodger.
The role of Oliver Twist is played by Cian Eagle-Service (The Witches, Les Misérables), Raphael Korniets (The Snowman), Jack Philpott (The Witches, Matilda) and Odo Rowntree-Bailly (Love Never Dies).
Forming the young adult cast are Callum Hudson (Noah Claypole), Isabelle Methven (Bet), Lochlan White (Charley Bates) and Harry Cross (Dandy). The ensemble members/swings are: Rachael Archer, Tegan Bannister, Adam Boardman, Lois Craig, Stephen John Davis, Bethany Huckle, Ebony Jonelle, Bethan Keens (Charlotte), Danny Lane, Peter Nash, Josh Patel-Foster, Sam Peggs, Jasmine Sakyiama, Wendy Somerville (Old Sally), Charlie Stripp, Leah Vassell and Matthew Whennell-Clark.
The younger roles in Fagin’s gang are shared by Toba Agbelusi, Zoe Akinyosade, Ben Birch, Preston Cropp, Kylan Michael Denis, Sebastian Elton, Liam Findlay, Rudy Gibson, Stanley Guy, George Hamblin, Lily Hanna, Sammy Jones, Grace King, Jonny Niland, Hugo Pechey, Alex Prior, Teddy Probets, William Skinner, Ethan Sokontwe, Dylan Xavier and Aaron Zhao.
This new production of Oliver! has been reconceived by Cameron Mackintosh, along with director and choreographer Matthew Bourne. The show premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre last summer, where it scored great reviews from the critics, and officially opened in the West End on 14 January 2025.
Joining Matthew Bourne in the creative team of Oliver! are co-director Jean-Pierre van der Spuy; designer Lez Brotherston; musical supervisor and conductor Graham Hurman; lighting designers Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs; sound designer Adam Fisher; video designer George Reeve; original orchestrations William David Brohn; orchestral adaptation Stephen Metcalfe; casting directors Felicity French CDG and Paul Wooller CDG; and children’s casting director Verity Naughton CDG.
Oliver! is playing at the Gielgud Theatre in London, booking to 29 March 2026.
Book tickets to OLIVER! at the Gielgud Theatre in London
Gielgud Theatre, London
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