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Show: Unexpected Twist (World Premiere)
Society: Royal & Derngate (professional)
Venue: Royal and Derngate. Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
Credits: Basd on the story by Charles Dickens and adapted by Michael Rosen, retold by Roy Williams. A Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Children’s Theatre Partnership co-production.
Type: Sardines
Author: Alexander Wood
Performance Date: 15/02/2023
Unexpected Twist
Alexander Wood | 16 Feb 2023 17:23pm
Photos: Manuel Harlan
Updated Dickens Makes a Gripping Watch!
Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist to draw attention to poverty in England but particularly to draw attention to how this could so easily lead children into crime.Â
Unexpected Twist at The Royal Theatre, Northampton, based on the book by Michael Rosen and adapted for the stage by Roy Williams – could any show have a better pedigree than that – does a brilliant job of reminding us of the well-loved Victorian tale within the context of modern Britain.Â
Rather sadly it also vividly illustrates that, in some respects at least, little has changed. Â
For me the play with (lots of) music’s great strength lies in the delicate balance between the need to remind us of the characters in the book and the story of a group of teenage schoolkids in contemporary East End London. The writers do this perfectly, letting the modern story run with but with just enough reference to Dickens to draw out the connections between past and present.Â
The story centres round Shona, whose mother died two years previously. She lives with her hapless but loving dad and has just moved to another new school, where her class is reading Oliver Twist. Finding that she does not possess a mobile phone (!) one of her classmates gifts her one but it soon becomes clear that if she is to keep it – or get something better – the price of this will be her (initially unknowing) involvement with a gang of kids her age who deal in drugs. Unbeknownst to Shona, running the show – the modern- day Fagin – is her much-loved nan under the cover of her dress stall on the market overseen by the thuggish Pops, our contemporary Bill Sykes.Â
All performed by an excellent ensemble of just 10, most playing multiple roles. At the heart of the show is the classroom with its quickfire banter/roasting. They’re a pretty tough lot but totally believable – I loved the reply the teacher gives to the kid who asks if she should get the headteacher. ‘If you can find him’. I had one like that.Â
The play has lots of songs – 22, all a capella/beatbox, composed by Conrad Murray and Yaya Bey, performed so well and fitting seamlessly into the action.Â
Special mentions for Drew Hylton (Shona) and her beautiful voice, Rosie Hilal for her portrayal of a hero teacher with a sad secret and Polly Lister for her sensitive portrayal of Nan.Â
An impressive set adapts itself for scenes in a schoolroom, a market and street in East End London and reminders of the original story. All supported by an excellent lighting plan which enables outstandingly sharp scene changes.Â
My companion at the show, grandson Calvin Lucas who is 10, says:Â
The cast are extremely talented and I enjoyed the beat boxing. Miss Cavani stands out for me because she is very believable. I enjoyed the way its relevant for today and what people might be going through. For a young person this is a gripping watch. I was not bored at all! I think it would be better for 10 + because some eight year olds might be surprised and scared of some of the content.
I would watch it again and would recommend this to my friends.
Director James Dacre leaves the Royal Theatre after this production – another of his top-class shows ‘Made in Northampton’. Good luck for the future, James.Â
- : admin
- : 15/02/2023