To celebrate Charles Dicken’s 200th anniversary, Teatru Manoel, in collaboration with tnt Theatre Britian will be staging an adaptation by Paul Stebbings and Phil Smith of the author’s timeless classic Oliver Twist.
Directed by Paul Stebbings with an original score by Thomas Johnson, Oliver Twist will be staged on 23 and 24 February at Teatru Manoel, with both performances starting at 8pm.
Oliver Twist has been described as the first modern novel. It is one of the few novels whose characters have entered into modern myth- Fagin, Bill, Nancy and the Artful Dodger can claim to be some of the best known literary creations outside of Shakespeare. The enormous energy of these characters and the full bloodied portrait of the first modern urban nightmare, London, make the story not only exciting and dramatic, but also truly contemporary. The themes and social issues raised by Dickens are as relevant today as they were when the novel was published over one hundred and sixty years ago.
The central theme is the link between poverty and crime. Beyond that it explores the way society treats its weakest members. Dickens’ style is highly theatrical, switching between the almost documentary to the comic, from action-packed narrative to emotional drama and indeed he himself gave dramatic readings of much of OLIVER TWIST to huge audiences in Britain and the USA.
TNT sweep away the sentimentality of so many versions and present the story through the eyes of Fagin as he stands on the gallows awaiting execution. The story is his last attempt at justifying his life of crime.
The audience too must answer if he was indeed at fault. Is he a criminal or a victim? Does he care for his boy thieves or does he exploit them? In addition to powerful drama, comedy and fast moving
action , the production has been highly praised for its capella score by the composer Thomas Johnson whose production of Hamlet is currently on tour in more than 20 countries.
The action is developed through integrated song, using complex and exciting five part harmony. The
director of TNT is Paul Stebbings, known for his work with The American Drama Group Europe. Recent productions include Macbeth, Hamlet, Fahrenheit 451, The Taming of the Shrew, and One Language, Many Voices.
TNT’s production of Oliver Twist is being revived for the fifth time, it has been seen from Tokyo to Berlin and from Scotland to China. It has only ever received good reviews and thrilled a wide range of audiences.
Booking Office: 115, Triq it-Teatru l-Antik; Valletta. VLT 1426;
Tel: 21246389
Monday – Friday: 10am – 1pm/5pm – 7pm; Saturday: 10.00 – 1pm.
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