Oliver! opening delayed for more rehearsals
Feature by Jack Foley
OLIVER! is no stranger to wanting more… but in this case it’s more time to get prepared for his latest West End bow.
The first two planned performances of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Oliver!, starring I’d Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger and Rowan Atkinson, have been cancelled.
According to Mackintosh, extra time is needed to rehearse three teams of 50 child actors, meaning that the planned shows on Friday, December 12 and a matinee the following day have been axed.
Ticketholders can exchange tickets or apply for refunds and the first performance will now take place on the evening of Saturday, December 13.
Elaborating further, Mackintosh said in a statement that the planned preview performances had to be cancelled because of “the complexity of the production”, which will see 150 children working with an adult company of 35 actors on a moving set.
“Each scene has to be rehearsed three times and, as the set is very large and complicated, it is imperative that they are rehearsed in complete safety,” he added.
Ticket-holders for the two cancelled shows have been told to contact the original point of sale to arrange a refund or an exchange.