GMPTE Website Launch and Theatre Night

Journalists from the Bolton Young Journalists group got to see where their stories would be also be published (as well as on here) at a special launch night on December 2. Here's Sammie Banks' view of how the night went and of the show.
"Charles Dickens' classic novel "Oliver Twist" was revamped by director Neil Bartlett at the Library Theatre in Manchester on the same night as Bolton's Young Journalism group went for a night out. Myself and four other young journalists from Bolton, along with Josephine Wynne-Eyton from GMPTE and James Corner from Greater Manchester Connexions went along for a sneak preview of where the articles that we had written would be published, along with the iJourno site. We were treated to speeches and meetings with MPs and other important people as well as being interviewed by the Manchester Evening News. As soon as speeches were over we posed for pictures promoting the evening and then dashed across town to get to Croma. And after pizza, pasta and garlic breads, we just made it back to the theatre in time for the opening prologue of Oliver Twist. Each young person at the launch had also been given a ticket to catch the liveshow. This wonderful piece of epic theatre was staged beautifully, consisting of 24 scenes with several songs to make the audience feel that they are encountering the story anew. The Library Theatre has a very limited space, but this didn't affect the set in any way during this perfectly put together performance. With its light-hearted humour, gruesome death scenes and an overall general atmosphere of suspense which kept the audience on the edge of their seats, this performance had something for everybody throughout. Oliver Twist is of course an orphan who is left to roam the streets after running away from his new owner when he is sold as an apprentice. Cue audience participation. Oliver, played by three boys taking it in turns each night, was brought before us to have a good look at before we were asked to hand over £5 for him. The audience was involved throughout the performance, with actors talking directly to those watching. There were cleverly disguised on-stage dress changes, hand-held signs telling us what and where the action was happening and many, many trap doors to rid of unneeded props. All of the music and songs were performed on stage by the actors, and characters appeared in the audience taking the visitors by surprise. You were easily drawn into this world of child labour and the fight over this poor child's welfare. Dickens did not attempt to hide the truth about what was happening on the streets of London, and truly reflected the events taking place in the Victorian era when this novel was written. And these are carried on by the Library Theatre and their perfect depiction.

While this performance has been adapted to be very dark and menacing, it portrays the uproar and grime that was typical of Dickens' time by sticking to the original text that he wrote more faithfully than some other adaptations around. With a cast of only 10, multi-rolling is obviously the only answer, cast members including Peter Macqueen (Fagin), Stephen Finegold (Bill Sykes), Adam Price (MrBumble), and Michelle Butt as Mrs Corney are all played brilliantly. But deserving a special mention, are Tom Lawrence as the Artful Dodger, who also narrated his way through the play, and Ella Vale as Nancy. The star of the show however, must be young Oliver, played on the night of our viewing by Daniel Shaw. If you are after a play to watch the Christmas, Oliver Twist comes highly recommended both by myself, by others members of the group, and by professional journalist reviewers too. This performance has been awarded a five star rating on the Manchester Evening News website, and quite rightly too. This performance appeals to both old and young, male and female, and whether or not you like horror, I can guarantee you will enjoy this adaptation and there must be something wrong for you not to.
Author: Sammie Banks

Bolton iJourno group