PLEASE Sir can we have some more time? The Angel Theatre has been given more time and the musical Oliver is set to hit the stage.There was a sigh of relief among actors and theatre lovers alike when Suffolk Coastal ruled that the Rendlesham theatre could stay open for another year.

By Jessica Nicholls

PLEASE Sir can we have some more time? The Angel Theatre has been given more time and the musical Oliver is set to hit the stage.

There was a sigh of relief among actors and theatre lovers alike when Suffolk Coastal ruled that the Rendlesham theatre could stay open for another year.

And what better way to celebrate than with the Angel Players treading the boards with their production of Oliver next month.

The theatre came under threat when plans for the future development of the Bentwaters site came into the spotlight.

Based in the former cinema on the airbase, temporary planning permission had been given until July 2002, but the small theatre proved such a hit that there was an outcry at the prospect of its closure and demolition.

Another venue is likely to be found and as the site has to be cleared to make way for the new development it is inevitable that the theatre will have to leave his current home but for now acting groups are continuing to plan their next productions there.

As with most of the Angel Players productions, Oliver looks like it will be a huge hit, set to the original Lionel Bart script.

More than 30 children from across the area are already gearing up to star in the show which will run in May.

Dave Foskett from the Angel Players said: "This will be the original script and will be performed by our very experienced actors and actresses.

"We have been rehearsing now for about a month and we are really hoping for a full house."

All the old favourites will be there, Fagin (played by Russell Munns), the nasty Bill Sykes (played by Nigel Lungley), the Artful Dodger, (played by Jessica Pengelly) and of course Oliver (played by 10-year-old Alex Mclean.

The production has become something of a family affair with Widow Corny played by Karen Pengelly, Jessica's mum.

The Angel Players have been in existence since the last 18 months and have worked their way up from very little to be where they are now.

Mr Foskett said: "When we started we only had £20 in the bank but we decided to go for it.

"The Angel Theatre supported us but we got to the stage where we wanted to stand on our own two feet.

"But now we are very secure, which is good because in theatre you are never sure how the next show will go."

The play is on at the Angel from May 16 to May 18 at 7.30pm every day with a 2.30pm matinee performance on the Saturday.

Tickets are on sale now and available from the Angel Theatre Box office on 01394 420272.