I'm looking to get my Mum a 60th birthday present and she likes this sort of rubbish (sorry!)

Does anyone know how the West End show works? ie is it already running?

Does anyone know when the BBC show 'winner' will first be performing?

Thanks!

Simon

Tickets go on sale this Saturday 7th April at 9am so you will need to go to http://www.oliverthemusical.com/ to book. Performances commence 12th December 2008....

Thanks MrSpielberg - is it likely that Rowan Atkinson and the show winner will be in the 12th December show? Is that called 'opening night'?

I'd like to know too as it says 'previews' (Dec dates) what does that mean? (and then says 14th Jan)

Saturday, 5th or Monday 7th April?

Monday the 7th.

It's normal for a major theatre productions to have a couple of weeks performing in front of live audiences (previews) before an offical opening night. These are done with the full cast and are just like a normal show.

The official opening is usually a gala night with the shows backers, celebs in posh frocks and lots of press coverage. It also when the critics turn up and write their reviews.

I've been to a number of previews and they have been perfect. However, this period is for ironing out any last minute glitches and friends of mine went to see a Chitty preview and the car broke down!

Thanks Cat Balou.

What do you reckon the chances are of getting opening night tickets?!

Just to add to the above, like it was said, previews are a chance for the show to be shown to the public and to see how certain things play out with a live audience, during previews they may realise certain things dont work, so it has been know in the past for scenes to get cut or lines to be changed, so you may go and see a preview and it will be a great show, then you may go after the official opening night and it may be slightly different. I have known people who have gone to previews and have preferef it because they got to see the show in its original form, and have been dissapointed when certain scenes have been cut because it worked for them, but obviously the director didn't think so for whatever reason. So its not that it is any better, it may just differ slightly. I know that Billy Elliot had some scenes cut and changed slightly, but that was mostly due to the running time being too long.