Pieter Toerien with Cape Town Opera, by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh, is delighted to announce the principal cast for Lionel Bart’s OLIVER!, directed by Steven Stead and coming to the TEATRO from 29 January 2027.
Based on Charles Dickens’ timeless novel Oliver Twist, OLIVER! Brings one of the most enduring stories in English literature to the stage in a spectacular musical celebration of courage, friendship, and the search for a place to call home. With Lionel Bart’s unforgettable score including favourites such as “Food, Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two”, “As Long as He Needs Me” and “Reviewing the Situation”, this much-loved classic continues to delight audiences of all generations.
Leading the cast is Jonathan Roxmouth (The Phantom of the Opera, EVITA, JC Superstar, Sunset Blvd, A Handful of Keys, CATS, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Key Change, Chicago the Musical, GREASE) as the wily and charismatic Fagin, with Bethany Dickson (GREASE, BUDDY, The Buddy Holly Story, Sunset Blvd, Matilda, Singing in the Rain) as the warm-hearted and courageous Nancy and Graham Hopkins (Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, My Fair Lady) plays Mr Brownlow. William Berger (The Barber of Seville, The Sound of Music, Bluebeard’s Castle) is Mr Bumble. Richard Gau (We Will Rock You, EVITA, Singin in the Rain, Dirty Dancing) is the notorious Bill Sikes. Daniel Anderson (The Tramp, Vincent) plays the irrepressible Artful Dodger, while Chris van Rensburg (The Addams Family, 7de Laan) appears as Mr Sowerberry/Grimwig and Dianne Simpson (The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Into the Woods) as Mrs Sowerberry/Bedwin. Megan Spencer (The Royal Countess Zingara, My Fair Lady) plays Mrs Corney, Sunny Yoon (Mamma Mia!, One Piece) takes on the role of Bet. Joining the principal cast will be a talented ensemble and a cast of 25 children, bringing the colourful characters and bustling world of Victorian London vividly to life. The young actors playing the role of Oliver will be announced soon.
At the heart of OLIVER! is the story of a brave young orphan who escapes the harsh confines of a workhouse and ventures into the streets of 19th-century London. There, he encounters the charismatic Fagin and his band of young pickpockets, the Artful Dodger, the troubled Bill Sikes, and the compassionate Nancy. As Oliver searches for family, belonging, and hope, he finds himself caught between a world of hardship and one filled with unexpected kindness.
The World-Class TEATRO at Montecasino will provide the setting for a richly theatrical production that combines some of South Africa’s finest musical theatre performers, dynamic choreography, wonderful costumes and a deeply human story that remains as relevant and moving today as ever.
OLIVER! promises a superb theatrical experience for the whole family, for lifelong fans of the musical and a new generation discovering Oliver’s story for the first time.
OLIVER! The Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg from 29 January 2027.
Tickets cost from R220 per person – booking through Webtickets with special advance Group Booking discounts through the Theatre Box Office (011) 511 1988.
Booking Link: Webtickets