A GIRL will play Oliver in Tadcaster Theatre Company's Oliver! this month in a break with tradition.

"Bailey Smith turned up to the auditions dressed as an urchin boy and was asked to sing Where Is Love," says publicist Lesley Jones, who happens to be Bailey's grandmother, incidentally.

"She was then asked to read from the script and the decision was obvious: she was a better boy than the boys! And so Tadcaster Theatre Company bravely took the decision to cast her, regardless of concerns by some that the casting may be unbelievable. Sometimes needs must."

Oliver will be Bailey's first major role at the age of nine, although she is no stranger to singing in public. She attends The Minster School in York and lives in Bishopthorpe after moving from Scarthingwell.

This autumn's show also marks the Tadcaster company's move away from a pantomime to a heart-warming family musical with singalong songs, love, drama, a touch of humour and children for the big production of the year.

Fagin will be played by York stage stalwart Steve Padfield; Nancy by Alison Davies, from Sherburn-in-Elmet; Bill Sikes by Peter Fletcher, from Towton, and Dodger by another regular performer on the Tadcaster stage, Noah Doyle, from Wetherby.

The comedy pairing of Terry Ford as Mr Bumble and Clare Meadley as Widow Corney promises to be a perfect match. Zack, from Tadcaster, will take the role of Sikes's dog, Bullseye.

Directed by Angela Edwards, with musical direction by Helen Wright, Tadcaster Theatre Company's Oliver! will run from November 24 to 28 at 7.30pm nightly plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets cost £10 to £14 on 01937 530079 or on the door.

The company's next major production will be Andrew Loyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar at Easter next April. Auditions were held in September.