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Fresh from its record-breaking run in the West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, one of the most beloved British musicals ever, Oliver!, is now on its way to Abingdon for Spring 2013.

Bringing vividly to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more, Lionel Bart’s sensational score includes ‘Food Glorious Food’, ‘Consider Yourself’, ‘You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two’, ‘I’d Do Anything’, ‘Oom Pah Pah’, ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ and many many more.

More than anything, this is a show packed with children. From the paupers in the parish workhouse singing ‘Food Glorious Food’, to the urchins running like rats through the alleyways of Victorian London, to the gin-swilling, pipe-smoking ruffians in Fagin’s thieves’ kitchen, this production needs (for legal reasons) two casts of excellent energetic children.

And of course, there’s plenty of good parts for the adults to get their teeth into.  From Fagin to Nancy to Bill Sikes and Mr Bumble, some of the best-known characters in musical theatre will be on stage during this week in 2013.  In the coming months, as we learn more about the production team for the show and get firm dates, you’ll find all the relevant information about this much-anticipated event right here.

In the meantime, mark your diaries and don’t book any holidays until you know the dates for Oliver!.  It will be the first time that AOS has ever produced this show and it’s bound to be a fantastic event.  We’re excited already!

Coming to Abingdon in Spring 2013 - Oliver!

Principal Roles

Oliver Twist - male, soprano

Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger - male, soprano

Fagin - male, baritone

Nancy - female, alto

Bill Sikes - male, baritone

Mr Bumble - male, baritone

Mr Brownlow - male, spoken

Widow Corney - female, soprano

Mr Sowerberry - male, baritone

Mrs Sowerberry - female, soprano

Synopsis

Oliver Twist is a young boy who lives in a workhouse with other orphaned boys. When Oliver disrupts a meal by asking for more, he is sold to a local undertaker and his family. They treat Oliver horribly and make him sleep under the coffins.

Oliver escapes and runs off to Paddington Green, where he quickly befriends another young boy, the Artful Dodger. Dodger takes him to his home, an academy for orphans who learn how to be pick-pockets run by a kind, yet slightly sinister, old gentleman named Fagin. Oliver is also introduced to Nancy, a lovable young woman, and Bet, Nancy's best friend. When Oliver goes on his first pick-pocketing job, he is caught by the police. The man that accused Oliver of theft, Mr. Brownlow, learns of Oliver's sad past and brings him into his own home.

Meanwhile, Nancy's man (the villainous Bill Sikes) worries that Oliver will tell Mr. Brownlow and the police where the thieves live. He forces Nancy and Bet to snatch Oliver from Mr. Brownlow's house and take him back to Fagin's. Nancy does everything Bill tells her to but plans to secretly take Oliver back to Mr. Brownlow. Before she can do so, Bill finds out her plans, and murders her. He then goes after Oliver, but is shot and killed. Oliver and Mr. Brownlow, who turns out to be Oliver's grandfather, return safely home.