A loyal companion has been chosen to play Bullseye alongside the fearsome Bill Sykes in Oliver! at the Orchard Theatre.

Eight-year-old English/French Mastiff Milo was picked for the role in the theatre’s Summer Youth Project show after hopeful canines auditioned last month.

The award-winning 10-stone dog (he recently came first in the obedience category in a local dog show) will work with 16-year-old Nathan Wills, who will play Bill Sykes.


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It will be the first time either has appeared on the Orchard Theatre’s stage, though Nathan has appeared in The Railway Children in the West End and is set to study drama at North West Kent College in September.

He doesn’t own a dog but loves animals is looking forward to getting to know Milo and learning all the correct commands.

The Summer Youth Project’s Oliver! will give more than 100 local youngsters a chance to sing, act and dance at the theatre, with performances from August 13 to 15.

Book tickets at orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.