A GREENOCK theatre group is serving up stage classic Oliver! with a twist — an all-girl lead cast.

In a break with tradition, the main character and the role of ‘The Artful Dodger’ in The Albany’s production of the Charles Dickens classic will be played by girls.

Aspiring actors Avril McLoughlin, Lucy McCracken, Emily Barnes and Lily Bryceland will take turns in the spotlight when ‘Oliver!’ hits the stage at the Beacon Arts Centre next month.

The girls, who are in The Albany’s acting academy, will star in two shows each during the run from March 22-24.

Lucy, 10, and Emily, eight, will take turns as ‘Oliver’ alongside Avril, 12, and Lily, eight, as ‘The Artful Dodger’.

Stuart Workman, The Albany’s managing director, said: “It’s something different and the girls are all really great.

“They’ve been with the academy for a long time and worked their way up. Most of the cast are girls.”

The older cast members will take to the stage for the Friday and Saturday night performances with the younger ones taking part in the Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon shows.

Lucy, who plays Oliver, said: “It’s been good fun and we all get to work with each other, learn off each other and make new friends. It’s also been good to stay on after rehearsals and see how the adults are doing and learning from them as well.”

Co-star Lily, who stars as ‘The Artful Dodger’, said: “I like the dancing in the show. I’ve also enjoyed making new friends.”

A cast of around 60 — made up of youngsters from the Orangefield theatre’s youth academy alongside adult actors from local drama clubs — are busy working on the show.

Rehearsals are in full swing ahead of the run and theatre chiefs hope to replicate the success of last year’s production of ‘Annie’.

Angela Varty, director of The Albany, said: “We had four sell-outs with Annie and four standing ovations, so we’re hoping this goes just as well.”

Tickets are on sale now at www.beaconartscentre.co.uk/events/oliver or by calling 723723.