It's a fine life for young Oliver stars

Classic musical Oliver! has been wowing audiences around the world for nearly half a century, with its universal appeal and instantly recognisable songs.

And it is hoped the latest version of the rags-to-riches tale can help launch the next generation of stage and screen stars from the West Midlands.

Around 130 youngsters chosen from open auditions have been busily preparing for five shows in four days when they will bring the seedy underworld of Charles Dickens-era London to life at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre from Wednesday.

It is an intensive regime for the budding actors who only started rehearsals on Friday as part of the theatre's annual two-week Stage Experience programme, which aims to give young people the opportunity to train under the guidance of theatre professionals before performing to a packed house at the Alex.

For the boy stepping into the shoes of Oliver himself, Ryan Gordon, it is his first big break at a professional theatre and one which he hopes can help catapult him into his "dream" career in acting.

The 10-year-old from Warwickshire has only ever been on stage once before, also playing the role of Oliver with an amateur dramatics club in his home village of Congerston, near Nuneaton.

"I'd done Oliver before in amateur dramatics so I just looked and found it was on at the Alex and thought, well, I'll give it a bash, and I got it," he says.

Despite being a relative novice on stage it seems Ryan is a natural at playing the star, unphased by the Express & Star camera and talking about his part with confidence and conviction that belies his years.

"I'm not actually that scared at the moment but it's going to be quite a shock," he says.

"In the old Oliver! there was only about 300 people each night, whereas for this one it'll be loads more.

"I'll be pretty nervous on the stage but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to wing through it."

One of Ryan's co-stars, 13-year-old Bradley O'Neill, has been perfecting his cockney accent for his role as loveable rogue the Artful Dodger and harbours similar ambitions of making it as a professional either on stage or screen.

"I would like to do acting in films obviously, but I'd say I enjoy it more more on stage, you get more of a thrill."

At 17, Halesowen teenager Josh Coley could be classed as one of the "veterans" for this show, in which the oldest cast member is just 19.

Having started acting at the age of six Josh, of Hawne Lane, has already amassed an impressive CV, including five previous appearances through the Stage Experience at the Alex.

Quarry Bank Operatics Society member Josh travels to Stratford-upon-Avon College every day to hone his stage skills and hopes to follow his dream of performing to audiences in London's West End.

His proud parents Jayne and Paul, as well as 14-year-old sister Philippa will be joined by a large collection of family members on closing night to watch Josh performing with the play's principal dance group.

Nursery nurse Jayne, aged 45, is a particularly enthusiastic supporter and volunteers as a chaperone for the under-16s in the performance.

Josh, who gets to don a range of costumes including workhouse rags and a policeman's uniform, says: "I love being in a production of the scale of Oliver!, everyone knows it and it's a very well-known musical. "I've been in productions since I was six and this is my sixth Stage Experience at the Alex. I'll definitely be coming back next year, I love it."

Mica Loveridge, also 17, from Oakfield Road in Stourbridge, also makes the journey to Stratford-upon-Avon College and says she also hopes to head for stage school and the bright lights of London's West End.

A keen dancer, she says she has been enjoying the intensive prepartions for Oliver!. "It's really good fun and a great experience," she says. "There's the social side as well, you get to know more people and do things like dancing all the time.

"I'm not really nervous but I probably will be when the show starts," she adds.

Oliver! premiered in 1960 and spent decades on tours and revivals.

It was made world famous in 1968 when it was made into a film starring Ron Moody as Fagin and Mark Lester in the title role. Lester recently came back into the media spotlight when he claimed to be the real father of pop star Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.

Youngsters involved in the show in Birmingham are in good company as Oliver! has helped launch the careers of a number of famous child actors including Davy Jones, later of The Monkees, Phil Collins of the band Genesis and Tony Robinson, who played the role of Baldrick in the television comedy Blackadder.

Steve Marriott, singer with Small Faces, also played the Artful Dodger in the West End.

Now in its seventh year, Stage Experience offers talented youngsters the chance to train and perform in a professional theatre environment.

* Tickets for the production are available from www. alexandratheatre.org.uk or by calling 0870 6077533.