Theatre-goers across Shropshire are sure to be shouting the immortal line “please, sir, can we have some more?” following a new run of the musical Oliver.
Telford-based Musical Theatre Academy will be performing the family favourite at Oakengates Theatre’s The Place between Thursday, November 23, and Saturday, November 25.
Audiences will join the journey into 18th-Century London to follow young orphan Oliver’s adventurous rags-to-riches tale.
They will also see Oliver’s friendship with master pickpocket Artful Dodger and gang leader Fagin get him into all manner of trouble.
After being captured by Fagin and abused for some time, Oliver is employed in an illegal operation involving the violent thief Bill Sykes.
With all this, crowds will be urging the lad to escape the clutches of London’s underworld and find the happiness and love he so longs for.
With time-honoured music and song from the legendary composer Lionel Bart, one of the most remarkable and dynamic personalities of the 1960s British stage, the show is sure to be a sing-a-long smash with audiences.
Oliver was Bart’s freely-adapted creation based upon Charles Dickens’ epic novel Oliver Twist, and the result of his amazing co-ordination of rhythm and rhyme has kept audiences spellbound for decades.
Show-stopping numbers included in this production of the family favourite include Food, Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, Pick a Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything and, of course, the eponymous title tune - Oliver.
Oliver the musical made its debut in the West End in 1960 and helped to launch the careers of several child actors, including Davy Jones, later of The Monkees, along with Phil Collins and Tony Robinson who would later play the role of Baldrick in the television series Black Adder.
It has been a popular show for theatre production companies ever since.
Company manager for the Musical Theatre Academy, Brian Pine, said he hoped the show would get whole families singing along in the aisles.
Thursday and Friday performances are set for 7.30pm with two performances on Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are priced between £5 and £11.
More information is available from the booking office on 01952 619020. Theatre-goers can also find out more about special rates for schools groups and party booking.
by Ben Bentley
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