ONE of the most popular musicals of all time Oliver! opens at Southampton Mayflower Theatre tonight.

This year's Mayflower Summer Youth Project production, it runs until Sunday August 30.

Over 380 young local talented performers auditioned back in March for 180 places in this major project.

Thomas Norman from Romsey plays the title role of Oliver, Sam Wood from Fareham plays Fagin, Georgia Carr from Sholing will play Nancy and Charlie Steggall from Winchester will play the Artful Dodger.

Other principal casting includes, Bet Sadie Levett , Bill Sikes Oakley Marsh, Charlotte Georgina Hendry, Mr Bumble George Shrapnell, Mrs Sowerberry Emily Hindle, Noah Oliver Downer, Mr Brownlow Aiden Hammond and Mrs Bedwin Hannah Hunt.

Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive, Michael Ockwell is directing the project once again.

He said the aim was to give the cast "a wonderful experience and a chance to perform on our stage. We want to inspire and develop a love for the performing arts for the young people in our region and I really encourage people to come and see some future stars in the making “.

Dickens’ characters will be brought to life with Lionel Bart’s sensational score featuring classic numbers Consider Yourself, Oom Pah Pah, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, Food Glorious Food, I’d Do Anything and many more.

The show follows the success of the Mayflower's sell-out youth productions Bugsy Malone in 2013 and Five of the Best in 2014.