Ballymoney's Jonny takes up the baton for Oliver! show

For he is currently steering a cast of over 60 through the magical music of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! with Portrush Music Society.

Music lecturer at the Ballymoney campus of NRC, Jonny is Musical Director with the award-winning company after joining them for the first time last year for Evita.

Oliver! opened on Friday with sell-out performances and continues in Coleraine’s Riverside Theatre until this Saturday (May 14th).

Not only has Jonny been working with the principal cast - which includes James McDowell in the central role of Oliver and Seamus Donaghy as the Artful Dodger, Rosemary O’Connor as Nancy and Alan Morton as Fagin - but he has also been putting an adult chorus and a 30-strong children’s chorus through their musical paces too.

Alan Morton in the role of Fagin is quite simply outstanding and captures the essence of the character in both his acting and singing.

Rosemary O’Connor as Nancy will move you to tears with her rendition of ‘As Long As He Needs Me’.

Taking on the role of the evil Bill Sikes is another Ballymoney man, Stevie Black, is his first principal role with PMS.

Providing the comedy in the form of Mr Bumble and Widow Corney are David McDowell and Helen Wilkinson.

This hilarious duo will definitely have you wiping away tears of laughter.

Other principal characters include Peter Olphert and Una Culkin as Mr and Mrs Sowerberry, Harry Stinson as Mr Brownlow, Elaine Macauley as Mrs Bedwin, Robert Blair as Dr Grimwig.

But the undoubted stars of the show are Oliver, Dodger and the chorus of workhouse children and Fagin’s gang.

With James and Seamus at the forefront as the lovable Oliver and cheeky chappie Dodger, the children’s chorus have put their hearts and souls into this production and the results are there for audiences to see.

Book now for the remainder of the run!

Box Office for the Riverside Theatre 028 70 123 123 or online www.riversidetheatre.org.uk