Written by children’s novelist Michael Rosen, and adapted by BAFTA award-winning playwright Roy Williams, this play is a modern retelling of the original Charles Dickens story of Oliver Twist.
Were it not for an announcement at the start of the production that no instruments would be used throughout, with all sound produced by the ten-strong cast using beatbox, we wouldn’t have known. This extraordinary sound, along with the actors’ brilliant voices, really brought the music to life, with the hip-hop, soul and grime beats written by Conrad Murray and Yaya Bey.
The story follows Shona (modern-day Oliver), played excellently by Drew Hylton, who has an incredible voice. Shona leads a life of poverty and things really hit home when she starts a new school as the other kids in the classroom make distinctions between her life and theirs, with them almost mocking her when they sing ‘You Ain’t Got a Phone?’
In a clever ‘Twist’ the book read by the students is Oliver Twist, drawing out parallels between the story and the present day. The ‘cast’ of Oliver appear at the start of the show in montage hauntingly and reappear throughout to emphasise the parallels with Shona’s predicament.
Shona’s dad, played by Thomas Vernal, is a single parent who is struggling on the poverty line. His song with Shona ‘I Remember the Beach’ is really beautiful, the pair work together so well.
When Shona is offered a phone, she accepts it to be like her peers, but then realises she is expected to use it to do the drug runs for those running the cartel, drawing parallels between modern day and Oliver’s workhouse.
‘Nan’, played by Polly Lister, is a force to be reckoned with, her strong vocals and clear characterisation of a modern-day Fagin stand out.
The stage is cleverly set, with the classroom scenes taking place in the space below, with lockers to either side, whilst Fagin and his gang are depicted entering through a set of doors ‘the workhouse’ above.
The lighting really brings the show to life with the darkened lights of the workhouse, switching to the bright lights of the school building, changing the mood in an instant.
The show is brought to a close with all the cast entering the stage with a final beatboxing session that the audience could get involved in by filming it on their phones – they even asked one of the audience to direct them!
Unexpected Twist is at Curve until Saturday 10 June
Tickets £10-£15
