Peter Polycarpou and Laura Pitt-Pulford star in Curve's Oliver!

Casting has been announced for Curve's productions of Roald Dahl’s The Witches and Lionel Bart’s classic musical, Oliver!, which both open at the Leicester theatre in December.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers actress Laura Pitt-Pulford and The Bill star, Cat Simmons, are due to share the role of Nancy in Paul Kerryson's production of Oliver!.

Simmons will play Nancy for the majority of the show's run from 27 November to 2 January, with Pitt-Pulford taking over for all performances until 16 January.

The title role of Oliver will be shared by Liam Carr and Albert Hart whilst Joel Fossard-Jones and Kwame Kandekore will both play the Artful Dodger.

Sweeney Todd actor Peter Polycarpou will star as Fagin alongside Oliver Boot as Bill Sikes, Jenna Boyd (Widow Corney), James Gant (Mr Bumble), John Griffiths (Mr Brownlow), Natalie Moore-Williams (Mrs Sowerberry and Mrs Bedwin), Lucy Thomas (Bet) and Jez Unwin (Mr Sowerberry and Grimwig).

The cast will be completed by Cassie Clare, Jaye Elster, Ross Lee Fowkes, Ryan Gover, Ian Gareth-Jones, Emma Harrold, Tim Hodges, Bethany Linsdell, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Louis Stockil and Dickie Wood.

Additionally, Nikolai Foster directs David Wood’s adaptation of The Witches from 16 December to 10 January.

The cast will feature Sarah Ingram (See What I Wanna See, Annie) as the Grand High Witch, Fox Jackson-Keen (Billy Elliot) as Boy, Karen Mann (Alice in Wonderland) as Grandma, Sioned Saunders (Calamity Jane) as Witch, Kieran Urquhart (Scuttlers) as Bruno, Elexi Walker (The Jungle Book) as Mrs Jenkins and Justin Wilman (The Kreutzer Sonata) as Mr Jenkins.

The show, a co-production with The Rose Theatre Kingston, will embark on a national tour in spring 2016.

In a joint statement, Chris Stafford and Nikolai Foster said: "It is with great pride we present two British classics on our stages this winter. We are thrilled to welcome these incredibly talented acting companies and creative teams to our city and, in a first for Curve, The Witches will open in Hong Kong whilst Oliver! premieres in our home town."