Oliver Twist - the reviews...

It seems that the reviews has started to come in and the first, it seems, largely agrees with my own review!

"A large, highly-talented ensemble of actor-musicians, directed perceptively by Josette Bushell-Mingo, a succession of catchy Lionel Bart-style songs and a wonderfully atmospheric set, all subfusc and smoky, add up to a delightful show for Christmas with universal appeal." THE STAGE Read more here...

Another glowing review...

"It is genuinely hard to find fault with the production, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. To paraphrase the show’s title character: “Please, Octagon. Can we have some more?” WHAT'S ON STAGE. Read more here...

"The show has enough of the feel of a theatrical extravaganza, the flavour of a gaudy musical and yet the intimacy of the dark social novel on which it is based to beguile all ages." THE INDEPENDENT Read more here...

"If there's a more finely detailed, authentically Dickensian performance this year, I shall eat my head as well. ****" THE GUARDIAN Read more here...

"Dawn Allsopp's quasi-expressionist set... Robert Pickavance's snakily self-interested Fagin... Andrew Price's blustering Mr Brownlow... Esther Ruth Elliott's tortured Nancy... Tim Frances's murderous, drink-bemused Bill Sikes... fast-paced, interlocking narratives (cleverly segued in Deborah McAndrew's astute adaptation and delivered with dramatic drive in Josette Bushell-Mingo's tumultuous production, modulated by Conrad Nelson's atmospheric score..." THE OBSERVER Read more here...

"HERE is a confession. I have no great liking for Charles Dickens...and the prospect of spending two hours watching a theatrical version of one of his novels...did not fill me with festive joy. So here comes confession number two — I’m converted. I take it all back. Josette Bushell-Mingo’s re-imagining of Oliver Twist is cinematic, clever, great fun and a little bit scary — all the things that I loved about stories as a child." THE BOLTON NEWS Read more here...

"the production at Bolton this festive season is laced throughout with catchy songs and dances... Robert Pickavance is an oleaginous and sycophantic Fagin; Tim Frances is excellent comic value as Mr Bumble... This version of Oliver Twist is sweet without being saccharine, and addresses the iniquities of Victorian England without being too scary for a younger audience. Judging by the reaction from the stalls on Friday night, this is a really excellent Christmas show for the whole family." UKTHEATRE NET Read more here...

"a splendid and fresh approach to a text...the cast are uniformly excellent...But it is the set by Dawn Allsopp that is this shows real star, a cobbled London street with real smoking chimneys and hidden entrances that really steals the show, it is quite frankly the best set I have seen in regional theatre in many years." THE PUBLIC REVIEWS Read more here...

"Vigorous and spirited: a Dickens of a show....The approach is neatly pictured in the programme’s cover image; the face of a boy, puzzled, inquiring, sad against a bleak urban background recalling the Stephen Daldry/Ian MacNeil Inspector Calls: more children, sad or hopeful, a dark figure staking way behind underneath a gallows. Mixing theatrical verve and humanity, this is a fine Christmas gift of a production." REVIEWSGATE Read more here...

Other reviews and links

Read CityLife review here
Read British Theatre Guie review here
An interview with Director Josette Bushell-Mingo here.

Oliver Twist - production photos

It was press night of Oliver Twist on Friday and those of you that read this blog regularly will have seen a few advance images of the show. The show really was quite wonderful. The cast, as usual with our festive productions, were incredible as they acted, sang and played their way across an amazing set. There was so much to be impressed by so here are a few of my favourite things.

The set - I have said it before and I will say it again. The set looks spectacular. With the addition of great lighting, I love the lanterns particularly, and the smoke coming from the chimneys, it makes our intimate theatre seem, well, so much bigger in every sense. And with that, koudos to our awesome technical team and production staff for the mean feat of putting on such a mammoth show. You continue to amaze me.

The music - sounds fantastic with some wonderful harmonies and beautiful musicianship. The choreography of instrument handover is an amazing feat in itself. I particularly loved the musical scene in the undertakers that felt very Tim Burton. The exaggerated facial expressions, movement and music combined to look almost like a fantastical piece of animation. Wonderful...

The talent - the fact that the cast can not only sing, dance and act as well as play multiple characters, they seem to be able to turn their hand to many a different instrument. On top of that, the young cast, many of whom won't have acted on a main stage before, were wonderful. Especially considering the limited time they had to rehearse with the cast due to school commitments. I must mention Oliver himself but also the young gent that played Noah who, in my opinion, was on a par with his professional counterparts. Credit must go to the human dynamo that is Lizzie Newman for her dedicated work with 'her babies'.

The costumes - are also stunning. Well done wardrobe ladies - you are a marvel. And if you are not sure what to do with Nancy's jacket after the show I am staking my claim right now...Am also liking Mr Bumble's coat but not sure I would get away with this as day wear.

And last but not least the photos - I think we have captured some really beautiful moments from the show so thanks to Ian Tilton for capturing the moments and to Jon and David for their artistic and discerning eye. Good job all.

So many things to love and I haven't even mentioned the mulled wine and mince pies. All in all, a wonderful and fantastical show and I can't wait to see it all over again...love it!

Dicken's is in the building...

After much giddiness having seen the set and hearing the harmonious singing of carols around the building, plus decking the halls and the tree the anticpiation for Oliver Twist is palpable. Well, it is at my desk anyway. This has been compounded by the fact we open tonight, hence the dress was this afternoon and thusly, no production photos until...well right about now! For your delectation and prior to the show actually opening you get to see a couple of the photos before even our first night audiences.... you lucky people!

Christmas carols mixed with moments of high drama…

I am delighted to announce, thanks to the invaluable help from and guidance of Elizabeth Newman, the young company from Oliver Twist will present a theatrical medley of Christmas treats to celebrate Bolton’s Christmas Lights Switch On on 3 December at 6pm.

This Christmas extravaganza will be performed by the Brownlow Team, and you will get to meet every young character in the play Charley, Noah, Dodger and of course Oliver will make an appearance along with some not so well known young'ens - Bonicolt, Williams, the Farndale twins, Knobbleton, Bluggard, the Trot sisters, Badger and Christian.

The performance will include some of the most famous moments from this much loved Dickens story and I guarantee you will definitely leave wanting more!

Sneak preview...

We will be entering tech week next for Oliver Twist. Although I can't believe the festive show has come about so quickly, I am more than a little excited for one of several reasons. I loved A Christmas Carol (also Dickens of course), the cast are a bunch of super nice people, Josette, the Director, is one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met and I admire her immensely and then there is Dawn Allsopp's set.

It never ceases to amaze me how changeable the auditorium is and there is always something marvellous and magical about the set for the festive show. So without futher ado here is a sneak preview...now I don't want to ruin it for you so I have just included images of a few areas rather than it in its entirety but if you would rather wait for the show to open then close you eyes now...

Amazingly, these are images taken of the model for the set not the actually thing that is in the process of being constructed in our workshop but what a wonderful model. So detailed, so life like. Loving your work Dawn!

And next week perhaps some costumes...

activ8 making news...

There is a nice piece in the Bolton News about some of activ8's recent work with schools and how drama can be used to improve literacy. Plus there is a nice picture of the our own ever youthful Lynsey Merrick. You can read more here...

Strike at the Octagon!

The title might be a bit misleading as we are not joining the likes of Royal Mail and going on strike ourselves but we will mark the 25th anniversary of the Great Miners’ Strike when David revives his acclaimed production The Enemies Within by Ron Rose (Mon 14 December - Sat 19 December).

The play was created in 1985 using real-life accounts of striking miners and their families following interviews conducted by writer Ron Rose, David and the cast. The play uses their exact words to tell the real stories that members of this Yorkshire mining community felt compelled to tell.

The Enemies Within is a co-production between the Octagon and London-based Azure Theatre Productions. It will be the first Octagon-produced production to be staged in the theatre’s newly renovated Studio theatre. The show will go on to be performed at The Crucible in Sheffield – in the heart of the country most affected by the strike.

David recently directed a highly regarded BBC film, Faith, set in the 1984/5 strike. He is very excited about to be once again investigating this significant period in British history. He told me:

“I’m thrilled that, thanks to the generosity of Azure Theatre Productions, we are able to re-present The Enemies Within. With the distance of 25 years, The Enemies Within is a deeply moving and compelling retrospective look at the most important industrial relations dispute since the 1926 General Strike.”

Most of the original cast of Thacker’s groundbreaking production return to present this story, and it includes two actors who have recently performed here at the Octagon. Margot Leicester appeared in All My Sons and Ghosts, while Barbara Marten played Sylvia Gellburg in Broken Glass. They are joined by Howard Crossley, David MacCreedy, Barbara Peirson, Martin Riley, Stephen Tiller, Dyfed Thomas and Annie Tyson.

Ron Rose has written more than 60 plays performed by many of the country’s leading theatres. His extensive television credits include The Bill, Heartbeat, Between the Lines and the critically acclaimed Love and Reason.

Mixed Up North - tour reviews..

After playing here, Mixed Up North went on a national tour. Hence it has picked up some more reviews. I thought I woudl share them so if you saw the show you can read what is being said and if didn't you can see what you missed!

"Muzz Khan [above] is near-perfect as the lanky, occasionally bolshie Uday. Perhaps it is because he grew up near Burnley that Muzz brings such realism to his part. Or maybe it is simply a formidable acting talent...Under the sure direction of Max Stafford-Clark this clever often very funny play makes some profound points...However most of the audience of schoolchildren in the performance I saw were a mix of races. And they really loved it." DAILY EXPRESS Read more here...

"Outstandingly cast and acted, Robert Soans's play is propelled...by its youthful momentum. Most of the cast, including Lisa Kerr as slack-jawed dancer Kylie and Kashif Khan as foul-mouthed Sarfraz, are fresh out of drama school.Enthusiastic pupils from Camden, north London, and Eton, Berkshire, were going head-to-head with the cast after that performance. An East End audience under 25 years old, the theatre's neighbours in fact, will be the most discerning critics of Mixed Up North, which should be in the diary of every local councillor, and every something-or-other worker." THE INDEPENDENT Read more here...

"Bracing, combative and oddly joyous… Beautifully directed by Max Stafford-Clark, it's a verbatim piece by the best of verbatim authors, Robin Soans... Highly recommended ****" THE INDEPENDENT Read more here...

"Celia Imrie's tremendously entertaining performance would, on its own, make this show worth seeing. But as it happens, every member of the cast (most of whom worked on the show in its earlier stages at Lamda) is a delight to watch – even if their stories are anything but delightful...Max Stafford-Clark gives a masterclass here: his direction is fresh, funny, spontaneous and he makes you feel that this is theatre that really matters." THE OBSERVER Read more here...

"The material is sensitive, and there are moments of arresting power. There’s also some ebullient comedy...Max Stafford-Clark’s production certainly has zest. There is pert ensemble work, and there are strong performances from Celia Imrie as Trish and Stephanie Street as her assistant Aneesa. In smaller roles, Lisa Kerr and Muzz Khan have charisma." THE EVENING STANDARD Read more here...

Other reviews

THE TIMES Read more here...

Coincidences...

A bit of early casting news for A Midsummer Night's Dream and for me an uncanny coincidence. I was having a flick through Grazia (yes I have admitted my love for it before) and found this piece about a new spoof reality show, Cast Offs, coming to Channel 4 in November.

Not only does it star one of the cast [Kiruna Stamell as Carrie - there she is below] from our upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, but it was shot [and so was this photo shoot by the looks of it] partly near to my hometown in North Norfolk. Here are some of the cast on the glorious Holkham Beach. I look forward to shooting the breeze with Kiruna about the delights of the North Norfolk coast when she arrives for rehearsals after Christmas but if you want to see her in action before then tune in to Cast Offs on Channel4 from 24 November....

The North Norfolk coast has desirable as a location for TV and movies alike. Not only is it the location for Kingdom featuring Stephen Fry and Mixed Up North's Celia Imrie, but also Holkham Beach was used in the All Saints video for Pure Shores [soundtrack to the movie The Beach] and it was also the beach used for Gyneth Paltrow's enigmatic walk at the end of Shakespeare in Love.

Don't Miss Oliver Twist - casting news...

We are entering that time of year when we are going to start producing our magical festive show for all the family. This year the timeless classic Oliver Twist. And following on from the marvellous and very successful A Christmas Carol, this new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ work is seeing tickets flying out of the door.

At the meet and greet today I met the Director, Josette Bushell-Mingo. She talked so passionately and enthusiastically about the show I forgot that it is still a fair few months until Christmas and got the first tingle of festive spirit. It might be because it is already dark outside as I write this. Josette told me why this show...

“Oliver Twist is a story that touches us today, putting children and what it means to be a family at it’s centre. In this extraordinary new version – almost cinematic in quality – we are led down alleyway to street and through the tunnels of Dickensian London. The set is miraculous, it’s like taking a trip to Alton Towers and with live music and twenty one performers we are transported to a magical world that is the perfect Christmas experience.”

I can certainly back up her claims about the miraculous set. It looks amazing [pictures to follow] and many of the assembled company gasped as they say the 'mini me' model. The young people, especially, are going to have much fun exploring and using the set as it is like a playground but like the best playground with doors and tunnels and nooks and crannies. Game of hide and seek anyone?

As well as the charming young people that might be new to the stage or the 'little miracles' as Lizzie our assistant director calls them, we have an experienced and talented cast to play the adult characters. Robert Pickavance who played Scrooge in A Christmas Carol returns to the Octagon to play Fagin. Starring alongside him are Fiona Bruce, Laura Cox, Esther Ruth Elliott, Tim Frances, Andrew Price and Samantha Sutherland.

And a few of the team you might be more than familiar with. Here are a few interesting factoids...

There will be four young performers sharing the role of Oliver, including 10 year old Bolton School pupil Alex O’Loughlin, who appeared in both series of the BBC’s award-winning Life On Mars as the young Sam Tyler.

Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist has been adapted for the Octagon by Deborah McAndrew, who played fashion designer Angie Freeman [who married Curly Watts] in Coronation Street. Her first break as a writer came in 2004 when Northern Broadsides produced her adaptation of The Bells by Leopold Lewis.

Director Josette Bushell-Mingo is also an Olivier-nominated actor, and she knows all about making fantastic family theatre having starred in the West End smash The Lion King.

For more information, including a full performance schedule, or to book online visit the website or contact our Ticket Office on 01204 520661.

Ghosts - some more production photos...

I had to leave after the interval on Friday but after seeing the first act, I was really sad to leave. I am going to have to catch the rest of it this week. I really enjoyed what I saw, and to be honest more than I imagined I would. I read a version of the script a while ago and I thought it might be heavy going, but it seems the phenomenal amount of work the cast have done with numerous translations has, for me, made it far more 'real' and enjoyable. So until I get to see the rest of if I thought I would show some more images...

Ghosts - the reviews...

"David Thacker directs with a welcome precision and a lightness of touch... a seamless and fluid translation.... Patrick Connellan’s set is a flexible thing of beauty...superb turns from [Oscar] Pearce and [Vanessa] Kirby... it is Margot Leicester’s Mrs Alving that engages the mind and tugs the heartstrings." WHAT'S ON STAGE Read more here...

"Erik Skuggevik’s sensitive, sinuous, almost Pinteresque translation of Ibsen’s original might well turn out to be the real star turn here. Good as these five actors are, they are the better for having dialogue to deliver that is both impassioned and utterly realistic...Olivier award-winning director David Thacker has surpassed even his recent achievements with Miller’s play. This spare, seamless production touches the raw nerve and might well be a definitive interpretation of Ibsen for our times." THE STAGE Read more here...

"Ghosts is a rewarding play, a fascinating insight into Victorian morality and a reminder to us all that we don’t always know what is happening behind a seemingly happy façade. Well worth a visit." THE BOLTON NEWS Read more here...

"It is of historical interest but has dated beyond present day relevance, impossible really to surmount the script’s melodrama and make it believable, despite this being a very good try." CITYLIFE. Read more here...

"I don’t think I have ever seen anyone look as at home or relaxed on stage as Margot Leicester...Oscar Pearce’s bohemian Oswald makes an astonishing impact on his first entrance...and the character’s gradual decline through the play is deeply touching.The intimacy of the venue and the intensity of the piece...create a unique theatrical experience." UK THEATRE NET Read more here

"...slow-burning and assured new version... George Irving becomes the pious Pastor Manders, in a particularly subdued and almost sympathetic styling... Margot Leicester is a hugely-convincing Mrs Alving... Oscar Pearce... another intensely-moving portrayal from this talented actor." LANCASHIRE EVENING POST Read mere here...

"Norwegian drama Ghosts is dark, haunting - and hugely rewarding ****" DAILY MAIL Read more here...

"It maintains its grip largely because of Margot Leicester's compelling portrayal of Mrs Alving...Oscar Pearce's nervily bright Oswald generates an intensity clouded with apprehension and fear as the darkness of his illness takes its awful hold while, as Regina, Vanessa Kirkby convincingly swaps ambition for righteous indignation. Patrick Connellan's set conveys the stultifying atmosphere of Mrs Alving's isolation, the transparent floor suggesting the fragile surface and shadowy depths of a family life built on secrets and lies." THE INDEPENDENT Read more here...

"David Thacker’s being cunning as new Artistic Director at the Octagon, stamping his identity on the stage with two of his recognised strong points...There's good work from Vanessa Kirby (never overdoing the self-seeking) and Russell Richardson. Yet Margot Leicester’s Helena Alving is the production’s heart." REVIEWSGATE Read more here...

Further reviews...

THE GUARDIAN Read more here

BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE Read more here

The PUBLIC REVIEWS Read more here