MEMBERS of Milford Haven's amateur operatic society are busy learning how to pick a pocket or two, ahead of their latest production of Oliver.

The group is preparing to perform the much-loved English musical, with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, at the Torch Theatre in March.

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, it charts the early years of innoncent workhouse boy Oliver, as he is taken under the wing of the roguish Artful Dodger.

With a cast of around 70, aged from nine to 78, the group is looking forward to this vivid latest production.

Packed full of fantastic tunes such as Food Glorious Food, You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two, Consider Yourself and As Long As He Needs Me, musical director Marion Harris has plenty of fantastic material to work with.

Director Jenny Whyte, who has worked at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and as far afield as Kuala Lumpur, said the company was having great fun preparing for its six-night run this spring.

"We have a lot of fun and we laugh a lot, but it's a full length production so everyone is working very hard to make sure we get it right," she said.

Oliver premiered in the West End in 1960, and has been performed all over the world, adapted for the screen in 1968.

The show will run nightly at 7.30pm from Monday, March 6, until Saturday, March 11, at the Torch Theatre.

Full price tickets are £12.00, concession £10.