Tring Festival Company bring their production of Oliver! to The Court Theatre (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Tring Festival Company bring their production of Oliver! to The Court Theatre

12:26pm Friday 6th June 2008

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JODIE Prenger may have won the final of I'd Do Anything to play Nancy in the upcoming West End production of Oliver!, but the Tring Festival Company has its very own Nancy who, according to director Ian Gower, would have "wiped the floor with Jodie".

Speaking about Jenny Giles, who takes the female lead in the company's new production of Oliver! opening at The Court Theatre next week, Ian tells me: "Jenny is amazing. She has a Court Theatre background, with many lead roles in musicals, and she brings all that experience to the stage."

Ian's production boasts a cast of more than 70 local actors, children and a dog, and he also sings the praises of 10-year-old Alfie Glasser, who auditioned the old fashioned way to win his part of Oliver Twist.

"We chose him because he is young and hadn't done any major lead roles," Ian explains. "He brings a naivety to the stage that Oliver has, seeing the wide world for the first time."

Born and bred in Tring, Ian has been involved with The Court Theatre since it opened in 1978, when BBC Horse of the Year Show commentator Dorian Williams converted his old riding school into the 200-seat venue. "It's a great environment in which to learn your craft," Ian says.

To mark the theatre's 30th anniversary, hundreds of volunteers who have helped over the years have been invited to a black tie performance of Oliver! on June 7, while the general public can take their seats from June 9.

The Tring Festival Company presents Oliver! at The Court Theatre from Monday, June 9 to Saturday, June 14, 7.30pm. Matinee on Saturday, 2.30pm.

Tickets: 01442 823130

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