The musical is Lionel Bart's adaptation of the classic novel by Charles Dickens, best known for its 1968 screen version with Oliver Reed as Bill Sykes and Ron Moody as Fagin.

The last production by Longnor Players was the highly successful Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Oliver involves over 30 children and adults from all over the Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak areas. Oliver is played by Oscar Kanan from Warslow, while the Artful Dodger is Becky Salt from Longsdon, who attends Endon High School. Nancy is played by Lizzie Galley from Meerbrook, who attends Westwood College.

Longnor Players has been running in its current form since 2000 and has performed a variety of productions since then, including pantomimes, an Evening of Variety, Willy Russell's Our Day Out, a series of workshops, including dance, song, speech and circus work, culminating in a Workshow, The Wizard of Oz, a Mumming Play for a medieval re-enactment day at Pilsbury Castle, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Some of the more longstanding or older members of the group will be playing other key parts, including Mark Collier (as Bill Sykes), Martin Samuels (Fagin) and Ged Fitzgibbon (Mr Bumble).

Ged has previously been musical director, but Dan Guerrard from Cheddleton is now leading this with a four-piece live band. Eva Cliffe is the group's choreographer and the director-producer is Willy Hurst from Pilsbury.

There will be four performances at 7.30pm on Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st October, with a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday.

The shows will once again be at the Manifold School in Warlsow. Tickets are now on sale at £5 each (under fives free) and are available from a number of outlets including the shops in Longnor, Hulme End and Hartington, as well as Leek School of Dance.

You can also apply for tickets on the group's web site: www.longnorplayers.org.uk.

So it's time to review your situation, consider yourself part of the family and buy your tickets now.