Searles opened the show in 1994 with Jonathan Pryce in the role of Fagin and was requested to close to show in 1998 with Jim Dale as Fagin.
Searles studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London and also appeared in the original performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Whistle Down The Wind at the Sydmonton Festival held at Lloyd Webber's country house, Sydmonton Court in 1995 and also featured in the Cameron Mackintosh's Gala Concert..