Photo Flash: Rowan Atkinson in OLIVER!

Cameron Mackintosh will present Rowan Atkinson as 'Fagin' in Lionel Bart's musical masterpiece "OLIVER!" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with performances commencing from 12 December 2008 and a press night on 14 January 2009. 

Rupert Goold (Best Director, 2008 Olivier Awards) directs the production, which is based on Sam Mendes' triumphant 1994 staging, along with Tony award winning co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne.  Production design is by Anthony Ward; lighting design by Paule Constable and sound is by Paul Groothuis, with orchestrations by William D Brohn and musical supervision by Martin Koch. 

The 1994 London Palladium production of "OLIVER!" played 1,366 performances over three years and grossed more than £40 million at the box office breaking the then record for the longest run at that theatre. 

The production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane promises to be even more spectacular than ever before, with a cast and orchestra of over one hundred. The sensational score is full of Lionel Bart's irresistible songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I'd Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more. 

Rowan Atkinson has enjoyed a hugely successful career on stage, television and film for over 30 years.  A founder member of the BBC's Not the Nine O'clock News team, in 1981 he became the youngest performer to have a one-man show in the West End.  The sell-out season won him a SWET Award and the show toured the UK and internationally. Television credits include four series of Blackadder; Mr Bean, the highest rated UK comedy of the 90's, which was seen in over 200 countries, and the Ben Elton sitcom, The Thin Blue Line. Rowan was twice voted BBC Personality of the Year. Film credits include The Tall Guy; The Witches; Four Weddings and a Funeral;The Lion King; Scooby Doo; Love Actually; Johnny English and the internationAl Blockbusters Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie and Mr Bean's Holiday. 

Performance times for "OLIVER!" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will be as follows: 

Evening performances are Monday - Saturdays at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £17.50 - £60 for all performances, will be available from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Box Office on 0844 412 2955 and online at www.oliverthemusical.com.  

Laurence Jeffcoate

Rowan Atkinson and Eric Dibb Fuller

Burn Gorman

Rowan Atkinson

Burn Gorman, Eric Dibb Fuller, Rowan Atkinson, Laurence Jeffcoate and Jodie Prenger

Jodie Prenger