Prenger Takes a Star Turn in Les Mis to Warm up for Oliver!

Winner of the BBC's talent hunt I'd Do Anything, Jodie Prenger will prepare herself for the demanding weekly schedule of Oliver! by taking on various roles in Les Misérables.

Said to be the work of producer Cameron Mackintosh, Prenger's last minute casting is to give her the experience of starring in a major West End show first hand. While Jodie may be no stranger to a professional singer's workload (she once sung for Disney on a cruise ship), Jodie has precious little experience in the West End.

A spokesperson for Mackintosh confirmed that Jodie is currently in rehearsals for Les Misérables, which is presently the world's longest running musical. She is scheduled to appear in a variety of roles from the 26th August and will perform for either three or four weeks. Yesterday Mackintosh's office added:

“It’s something that we’ve consciously decided not to announce. We want her to keep a low profile and build up on the training that she underwent on the programme. We thought it would be useful for her to experience what it will be like performing regularly in the West End in that musical environment. We thought that it would be good to learn what it is like to be a company member.”

Though any finer details are yet to be disclosed, we here at Show and Stay are certain a brief stint in Les Misérables is just what Jodie needs to ready herself for the upcoming run of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

With fellow Nancy hopeful Niamh Perry causing quite a stir in Edinburgh with her part in the new musical Only the Brave, it looks like the I'd Do Anything girls are really finding their feet as performers in the professional arena. Tickets for the monumental production of Lionel Bart's classic musical Oliver! are available from Show and Stay now; it really is the West End show that everyone's talking about so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Published by: Nathan Brooker