Please Sir, can I have some more? | Auckland Entertainment | Events, Movies and TV Guide for Auckland

A young Bucklands Beach performer is thrilled about being chosen to appear in a theatre production of Oliver! Sharu Delilkan reports.

Choosing between his school play or a role in Auckland Theatre Company's production of Oliver! was easy for Kieran Bevan.

"I was thrilled to be cast in the musical and was happy that everyone, not just my school, would be able to come and see me,'' says the 11-year-old from Bucklands
Beach.

The show features songs from the 1968 movie that most of us know well enough to sing along to: Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two, I'd Do Anything, and As Long As He Needs Me.

Having already played Benji, the only child character in Priscilla Queen of the Desert last year, Kieran says he's really enjoying having the company of kids his own age in Oliver!.

"It is not as lonely and also helps me feel more confident on stage.''

Kieran plays one of the workhouse boys who becomes one of Fagin's gang.

"It's heaps of laughs during the rehearsals and I'm really grateful to the other actors for all the help they give us, especially Mark Hadlow and Helen Medlyn,'' says Kieran.

"It's so amazing to see them so open and friendly, and it's amazing they're constantly
teaching them things and giving them pearls of wisdom,'' says Kieran's mum, Christina, who is supervising the children in the show.

"That's something that's worth its weight in gold.''

Oliver!, SkyCity Theatre, Auckland CBD,
Oct 29-Nov 21. Tickets: ph 0800 842 538
or see: www.ticketek.co.nz