Oliver Twist at Derby Theatre

Be transported to the streets of Victorian London by Derby Theatre’s magical new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved novel Oliver Twist. Following Oliver, an orphan boy who finds himself passed from workhouse to coffin maker, thief den to townhouse, this is a story about home and kindness.

Deborah McAndrew’s adaptation opens with Oliver’s birth on Christmas Eve then jumps ahead to that fateful moment when Oliver dares to ask for more. This kicks off Oliver’s adventures which take place over the course of a year.

This is not the Lionel Bart musical. It has an identity that stands out on its own and uses music in an entirely different way. The songs throughout are ensemble numbers, with the music performed live on the stage by members of the cast. They range from variations on Christmas carols and nursery rhymes to original songs, but all are arranged with a unifying, cohesive sound.

Rather than being big showtunes, composer and musical director Eliza Waters uses the songs more as sonic scene painting—they set the tone and atmosphere of the play, establishing an emotional core to the show. The style is reminiscent of folk music, lending an ethereal feel to the musical storytelling.

The overall effect of the music is spellbinding. It is the pulsing backbone of the show, keeping the momentum flowing between scenes and tying everything together.

There truly isn’t a weak link in the cast. Not only do many of them play instruments on stage, many of them play multiple instruments and, on top of that, most of them have dual or even triple roles!

For the press night performance, William Poyser-Alton plays Oliver. Poyser-Alton has an instantly endearing and sympathetic stage presence. His innocence plays well against the grimy London setting and criminal elements. You can really see Oliver’s emotions through Poyser-Alton’s eyes and performance. The role of Oliver is shared between Poyser-Alton, Claudia Burton and Eliza Jean Poxon.

Fagin is brought to life by Polly Lister (who also plays Mrs Sowerberry and Old Sally), who plays the character with high energy and depth. Although Fagin is at home with his band of little thieves, Lister shows the character’s vulnerable side cowering away from Bill Sikes (Dan McGarry) and through a harrowing performance towards the end of the show. Lister clearly enjoys the role, and has a good connection with the large cast of children making the group thief-training scene all the more enjoyable to watch.

Analiese Emerson Guettinger’s Nancy and McGarry’s Bill Sikes are a stellar pairing. Their scenes are some of the hardest hitting in the show, with their performances eliciting strong emotional reactions. Emerson Guettinger’s depth of character really shines through in her scenes with Mr Brownlow (Samuel Heron) and Rose (Karen Young)

Violence in the show, especially that dealt out by Bill Sikes, is cleverly portrayed through a powerful combination of lighting (designed by Arnim Friess) and sound (designed by Jim Harbourne). Despite the actors being physically separate during these moments, this design choice hits hard and is unflinching.

Deb Pugh’s movement direction is kinetic and high energy. This pairs well with Sarah Brigham’s direction which is pacey, tight, and smooth. There isn’t a moment wasted in the production.

The stage is brought to life by Neil Irish’s excellent stage design. Rows of terraced buildings running down either side of the stage coupled with higgeldy-piggeldy wooden boards and raised platforms paint a vivid picture of Dickensian England, with its class divide and murky underbelly but with hints of spirit, life and quirkiness. The stage beautifully transforms through the use of oversized hankies and bright fabrics to denote Fagin’s Den.

Given how many times Dickens’ Oliver Twist has been adapted for both stage and screen, it is hard to believe it is possible to do anything new with it. But McAndrew has done just that along with the creative team at Derby Theatre. This tremendous show is a must watch for this festive period.

Photography Graeme Braidwood