An amateur dramatics group is rehearsing hard before it takes to the stage for its first full length musical production.

The Thetford Players will be performing popular family musical Oliver! at the Carnegie Room from July 21 to 23.

Although it has been delighting local audiences with its annual pantomimes for years, this will be the group's first musical production and will also feature a live band.

Written by Lionel Bart, the show follows Charles Dickens' classic novel Oliver Twist about a downtrodden orphan who joins a riotous family of thieves, and features songs such as Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself and It's A Fine Life.

Jack Jenkins stars as Oliver, following his role as Michael in the Players' Peter Pan earlier this year, and newcomer Harry Smith brings the popular Dodger to life. Thetford Academy students Madeline Soan and Thomas Chamberlain play Nancy and Bill Sykes in their first Players' production, while Craig Plumley makes a return to the stage as everyone's favourite miser, Fagin.

Thetford Players chair Jo Cooper said: 'We are really excited to be bringing our first musical to the stage. As well as having a good number of our current members in the cast, we are delighted to welcome lots of new faces too.'

Tickets (£10/£8.50 conc) are available now from Leaping Hare (www.leapinghare.org). Evening performances start at 7pm and there is a Saturday matinée at 1.30pm.

For more information, see the 'Thetford Players Oliver' Facebook page or go to www.thetfordplayers.co.uk.