Cast announced for Oliver Twist
01/11/2018
The cast for Hull Truck's new Christmas production has been announced. Following the huge popularity of last year’s A Christmas Carol, Hull Truck Theatre’s most successful Christmas show to date, this will be a new, magical version of Oliver Twist, written by playwright Deborah McAndrew and directed by Artistic Director, Mark Babych. Hull Truck Theatre’s festive version of Charles Dickens’ much-loved novel will follow the story of Oliver against a fabulous background of traditional carols, folk songs, and original music.
Our Oliver with a festive twist will simultaneously warm hearts and make this classic story relevant to contemporary Britain. The production reflects our strong commitment to our inclusive casting policy: half of the auditionees were BAME and disabled actors, two of the seven actors that make up the professional company are black professional actors, and a traditionally male character will be played by an actress: Flo Wilson has been cast as the legendary Fagin.
Known for theatre productions such as One Hand Tied Behind Your Back (The Old Vic), Richard III (co-produced by Hull Truck Theatre and Northern Broadsides), and The Frogs (National Theatre), Flo Wilson will also play the roles of Old Sally and Mrs Sowerberry. Young talent Oghenekevwe Emefe, who has recently graduated with a BA Hons in Acting from ALRA North, will make her professional stage debut with Hull Truck Theatre, taking on the roles of Agnes, Bet, and Rose. Claire Storey (Hard Times, The Grand Gesture, The Comedy of Errors & Sweet William - Northern Broadsides National Tours, Hay Fever at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Elvis-The Musical at West End and on Tour) will star as Widow Corney, Mrs Bedwin, and Justice Fang. Lauryn Redding (Educating Rita at Dukes Lancaster, New Vic, and Stephen Joseph Theatre, Bread and Roses, Up ’n’ Under, Oh What a Lovely War at Oldham Coliseum, Frankenstein at Salisbury Playhouse) will portray Charlotte and Nancy. Ian Jervis (opera and musical credits include Rake’s Progress, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Boheme, Falstaff, West End productions: Phantom of the Opera, Oliver!, Die Fledermaus) will star as Mr Bumble and Mr Grimwig. Patrick Bridgman (Hymn to Love at Theatre by The Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Cinderella at Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Hamlet at West Yorkshire Playhouse) will join the cast as Mr Sowerberry and Mr Brownlow, while Samuel Edward-Cook (Antigone at the Barbican and on International Tour, Our Big Land at Ovalhouse and on UK Tour, King Lear at Theatre Royal Bath) will play the roles of Bill Sikes and the Officer.
The professional company will be joined by two teams of young talents drawn from Hull Truck's Youth Theatre and the Northern Academy of Performing Arts. The creative team members that will help bring this wonderful story to life are: Ciaran Bagnall (Set Designer), Edward Clarke (Sound Designer), John Biddle (Musical Director), and Jon Beney (Movement Director).
Mark Babych, Artistic Director, said: “Christmas is often the time when families come together to go to theatre and it is an honour to create a few magic hours of storytelling that everyone can enjoy.”
Recommended age 7+
To book tickets for Oliver Twist click here or call the Box Office on 01482 323638.
