‘Oliver’ steps up to the Strictly stage

Rising star takes to the stage in front of 7 million viewers

Nine years ago Oliver Quinn aged 12 stepped onto the stage at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House playing his namesake Oliver, in WEOS Musical Productions performance of Lionel Bart’s classic Oliver. Today Oliver, or Olly as he is affectionately known within WEOS, is not only part of the boy band DearALICE but performed with the band on Strictly Come Dancing in November this year in front of 7 million viewers.

In 2023, Olly applied to take part in the latest BBC One talent show, Made in Korea: The K-pop Experience, a reality show which was aired on the BBC in August 2024.  Olly went through vigorous auditions as an individual  before being put together with other band members and flown out to South Korea’s capital for 100 days rigorous training as the boy band DearALICE.    

Like many keen youngsters Olly loved performing from a very young age and appeared in many amateur and professional productions growing up.  He was a member of the Chorister School in Durham for five years and a member of The National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

WEOS Chairman Ruth Barber said, “We clearly can’t claim any of the success regarding Olly’s rise to fame. He has worked so hard to achieve his dream, but it is wonderful to know that we may have helped him along the way.  His dream as a young boy was to become a professional and his dream has certainly come true.”

Olly, now 20 years old and a recent graduate in dance and musical theatre from Laine Theatre Arts and Bird College, faces an exciting future with DearALICE and one to watch out for.

WEOS Musical Productions continues to support young people in all of their productions where appropriate and have worked and supported young people from the age of 5 upwards.  Their recent performance of Evita in April 2024, saw them win in District 5, the Best Youth Ensemble, Best Individual in a Musical for 27 year old Hannah Ellis Brown’s performance of Eva Peron in Evita, Best Musical in District 5 and Best Musical in the north region.