Oliver boys chosen!

11-year-old Gwion Jones, 12-year-old Harry Stott and 11-year-old Laurence Jeffcoate have been chosen to share the title role of Oliver!, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 14 Jan 2009, following previews from 12 Dec 2008.

They were chosen by Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber from eight finalists who appeared on the BBC show I'd Do Anything.

Lord Lloyd Webber said: "Cameron and I agree we have three very different Olivers, but I think it's a great result and I think whichever Oliver you go and see you're going to get a fantastic performance."

The musical will feature Rowan Atkinson as ‘Fagin’. The role of ‘Nancy’ is being decided by public vote on Saturday BBC reality show 'I’d Do Anything' on Saturday 31 May 2008.

The musical is directed by Rupert Goold, based on Sam Mendes’ 1994 staging, along with co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne. It is designed by Anthony Ward; lighting by Paule Constable and sound is by Paul Groothuis, with orchestrations by William D Brohn and musical supervision by Martin Koch. It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh in association with the Southbrook Group Limited.