Unexpected Twist! An Oliver Twisted Tale

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I've read Oliver Twist, but a while ago, so some of this seemed unfamiliar. It could be understood by fairly young readers though, top end of primary school won't have trouble with the language of the extracts selected. A powerful re-telling directed by James Dacre and an interconnecting stage design by Frankie Bradshaw, seamlessly amalgamates the classroom with the workhouse but be mindful the struggles lurking behind every forced smile and accept that life is a struggle worth struggling for. Unexpected Twist follows a teenage girl called Shona (Drew Hylton), who recently lost her mother. She and her father (Thomas Vernal), who recently lost his job, have been moving from place to place and living on chips. Her maternal grandmother (Polly Lister, who also plays Aunt Lorraine), who is involved in some dodgy business, has fallen ill – much like Shona’s dearly departed mother. Shona joins a new school, and her English class is studying Oliver Twist (as if her life was not already hard enough, but hey, at least it’s not Shakespeare). Shona soon gets into the wrong crowd and discovers easy ways of making money – albeit, illegally – much to the chagrin of her father and the concern of her grandmother, who does not want her granddaughter to take after her.

Then I opened the school’s newly renovated library which, very kindly, they’ve named after me – as you can see from the picture! Rosen reads the book himself, and as a well-practiced speaker, he's an engaging narrator. Oliver Twist works when read aloud, as the narrator of this is also talking direct to audience at times. An ‘excuse me’ would be nice but there you go. They’re followed by an adult who plonks herself down next to them and starts playing with that now-universal, ubiquitous toy called a mobile phone. And here’s the listing for the one I did for Shakespeare Week. I hope that a recording of it will go up soon.

A visitor’s guide to the lights of Lumiere

I did a podcast with John Bishop and Tony Pitts. I had to choose three words that have been important in my life. This thrilling production is brought to vivid life by The Children’s Theatre Partnership, whose shows have included Animal Farm, Holes and The Jungle Book. Directed by James Dacre (2020 Olivier Award nominated Our Lady of Kibeho), Rosen’s novel is adapted for the stage by BAFTA award winning playwright Roy Williams with original music by rising R&B star Yaya Bey and BAC Beatbox Academy’s Conrad Murray. The full cast has been announced for The Children’s Theatre Partnership and Royal & Derngate, Northampton’s co-production of Unexpected Twist, which is set to run at Leicester’s Curve theatre Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 June.

Directed by Royal & Derngate’s artistic director James Dacre, the new play with music will star Kate Donnachie ( Aladdin) as Desree, Alex Hardie ( Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster) as Gazz, Rosie Hilal ( Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Miss Cavani, Drew Hylton ( Annie) as Shona, Nadine Rose Johnson ( Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster) as Rosie, Polly Lister ( The Worst Witch) as Nan/Lorraine, Alexander Lobo Moreno (GrimeBoy) as Tino, James Meteyard ( Coriolanus) as Pops, Liyah Summers ( Our Lady Of Kibeho) as Rasheda and Thomas Vernal ( The Book of Mormon) as Dad. I must applaud the choreography, especially the dancing and movement of Kate Donnachie, Nadine Rose Johnson and Liyah Summers, who play a trio of schoolgirls. It has been turned into a stage show with a cast of 10 and original music by singer-songwriter Yaya Bey and hip hop maestro Conrad Murray. But the fact remains that Unexpected Twist is arguably a bit of a misnomer, all the action being entirely predictable. A few surprises were required… but unfortunately, they never materialised.The play cleverly interrogates a great deal of sociopolitical issues, including youngsters turning to crime to support themselves and their families financially. But it all felt a little bleak. It began quite fun, with lots of comedy, but it soon took a dark turn. It could have done with a little more comedy throughout; it was a little too heavy and serious, especially for a kids’ show. Writer Michael Rosen and adaptor Roy Williams clearly want to draw parallels with the poverty and despair of the 1830s poor and the present day, with its foodbanks and inflation-ravaged political climate. Michael Rosen, is of course, theatre royalty. To question any of his creations is akin to a 16th century Protestant heretic doubting the validity of the bread and the wine. Gaston tells his best friend, Hirondelle the house martin that he has to go for a big walk to the beach. On the way he meets up with friends – hedgehog, butterfly, snake – yes!, fox, owl, yak, – and meets some enemies: a cat, and a very bossy dragonfly. Will they find what really matters? Anyway, I did a bit of show for the children in the hall, where I had sat so many times between 1954 and 1957. I almost felt like my headteacher, Mr Scotney, standing exactly where he stood.

Shona and her class are studying Oliver Twist. She’s new in school and keeps finding herself in trouble – much like Oliver himself! When she’s given a new phone by a stranger, she begins to suspect there’s something fishy about the new kids she’s met…I’ve been taking part in live streams (and some recorded ones) for schools. Some with the British Library on how to write your own Fairy Tales. Here’s part of one of my contributions: