New Fagin needed for Oliver!

Russ Abbot is playing Fagin in the West End production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.  He is pictured here playing the part with Ron Moody making a special guest appearance earlier this year. 

He was on the Michael Ball Show yesterday afternoon and confirmed he will be leaving before Christmas with his last performance scheduled for Saturday 4th December.

Oliver is currently booking until 26th February 2011 which means that Cameron Mackintosh will have to find someone else to pick a pocket or two over the Christmas and New Year period until the show closes to make way for Shrek the Musical which is starring Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Richard Blackwood as Donkey and is due to open on 7th June.