St Benedict's students deliver a captivating Production of Oliver!

Over its three-night run, St Benedict’s School adaption of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! captured all the emotions and grit of Dicken’s London.

Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver! follows the story of a young orphaned boy, Oliver Twist, (Thomas, Year 7) as he journeys from a desolate workhouse to the paved streets of Victorian London in search of comfort, a place to call home and most importantly, love.

As he navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, Oliver is taken in by a gang of child pickpockets led by the conniving, yet charismatic, Fagin (Angus, Year 12).

Thanks to Nancy (Kate, Year 13 ) the villainous Bill Sikes’ (Stefan, Year 13)  long suffering girlfriend, Oliver is rescued by a kind, wealthy gentleman Mrs Brownlow (Charlie, Year 13) but with tragic results.

Featuring memorable songs such as ‘Food, Glorious Food’ ‘Oom Pah-Pah and ‘Where Is Love?’ St Benedict’s production of Oliver! delivered a dazzling and passionate performance taking the audience through a range of emotions.

Mr Mark Randall, Director and Head of Drama at St Benedict’s writes:

‘Historically, the cast and lead roles for the School Musical Production have just involved Upper School and Sixth Form. This year, I decided to set the challenge of producing a show with students from F3 to U6. We had a cast of 45 students, 16 of which were Form 3 (Year 7). Thomas, who played Oliver, performed brilliantly and has grown in confidence enormously since the start of the process. All students have worked tremendously hard, in particular, the older students, who were extremely supportive, encouraging and patient with the younger students.

I am so proud of everyone involved with the show, not just the cast, but also those supporting backstage, with the musical band, make-up, lighting and sound.

All the students were amazing, but I must give a shout out to some outstanding performances from some of our Year 13 students, where this will be their last show at St Benedict’s – Angus as Fagin, Kate as Nancy, Stefan as Bill Sikes, Mak as Mr Bumble, Charlie as Mr Brownlow, Inigo as Mr Sowerberry and Ella  as Mrs Sowerberry and many more fantastic performances.'

Special thanks and congratulations to Director, Mr Mark Randall and Musical Director, Miss Amy John for this hugely successful whole senior school production - a first for St Benedict's and hopefully not the last!