YORK Musical Theatre Company has taken on a new designer for the autumn production of Oliver! at the Grand Opera House, York.

Dave Benson, from Oldham, has created many sets for the Oldham Coliseum and other prominent theatres in the North West and Yorkshire, and now he is adding the York amateur company to his client list.

Explaining the choice of designer, YMTC chairman Jim Welsman says: "He had just done a professional production of a play called Threads at Oldham, which was set in Victorian times like Oliver!, so that gave us some idea of what he could do.

"So we got in touch, went over to Oldham to meet him, and now we'll be looking to continue our relationship with him for future shows."

Those shows will include the May 2004 production of Annie Get Your Gun, in a North Eastern amateur premiere based on the new Broadway version, which sets Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in a big top tent.

Lionel Bart's Oliver! is directed and choreographed for YMTC by Paul Laidlaw. The principals will be John Haigh, playing Fagin after his impressive company debut in Cabaret; Richard Lyth, as Oliver; Richard Bainbridge, cast against type as fierce Bill Sykes; Toni Feetenby, as Nancy; and Sam Coulson, as the Artful Dodger.

Hire company Dress Circle, of Moor Lane, York, and costume designer Jill Outhwaite will provide the costumes.

York Musical Theatre Company presents Oliver! at the Grand Opera House, York, on September 26 and 27, then September 30 to October 4, 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets: £12, £10, £8 for children; ring 0870 606 3595.

Updated: 09:27 Friday, September 19, 2003