Oliver! Takes to the Road, Tour News Imminent???

Cameron Mackintosh opens his first original musical in over a decade tomorrow with Stiles and Drewe’s Betty Blue Eyes premiering at the Novello Theatre (13 April, previews from 19 March 2011) but from what we hear the impresario may well have his next project lined up – a UK tour for his production of Oliver which played the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 8 January 2011. Casting breakdowns for children’s role have been circulated with a tour kicking off in Cardiff in December of this year with young actors sought for dates as far away as February 2013. We have been told to expect official word about the upcoming tour as early as next week.
Lionel Bart‘s musical was directed by Rupert Goold and Matthew Bourne at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, based on Sam Mendes’ 1994 staging for the London Palladium. That production ran for four years to February 1998. The new production is expected to announce dates in Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Edinburgh, Norwich, Plymouth, Newcastle, Leeds, Dublin and Bristol.