NEMusicals York is a somewhat clunky name but its intention is to distance the society from its past. All ties with New Earswick have been cut, the "NE" now standing for New and Exciting, the rehearsals held in York.

Such is the positivity of director Stephen Tearle, who has re-energised one of York's long-standing amateur troupes to the extent that Oliver's run this week is all but sold out.

NEMusicals last performed Lionel Bart's Oliver! as recently as 2015, but, please sir, Tearle wanted more. Re-viewing the situation, he has cast himself as a nimble, slippery Fagin once more; brought back James O'Neill as an even darker, malevolent Bill Sikes; imported Emma Joyce Dickinson from York Light for an outstanding Nancy; given Will Roberts his impressive first lead as Oliver and picked just the right Artful Dodger in Jack Hambleton.

Sam Roberts excels in his cameo as the bullying Noah Claypole, while Richard Rogers and Lorraine Hodgson locate the fractious comedy in the slothful Mr Bumble and the saucy Widow Corney.

A cast of more than 50 is somewhat tightly packed on the JoRo stage for the ensemble scenes, but the young Orphans and Londoners revel in the London congestion, full of energy and enthusiasm under the choreography captaincy of Ellie Roberts, while Jess Douglas's musical direction has all the requisite lightness and darkness. Look out for the video projections, excitingly putting the new into NEMusicals.

Oliver!, NEMusicals York, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 01904 501935 or at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk