Oliver!

Musical

Writers: Lionel Bart

Overview

Show Information

Music
Lyrics
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Category
Musical
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1960
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
london, 1830s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Musical Staging
Ideal for
Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes child, early teen, adult, mature adult, late teen, young adult characters

Synopsis

Bringing Charles Dickens’ beloved novel to life, Lionel Bart’s Oliver! takes audiences on a wild adventure through Victorian England. Join young,orphaned Oliver Twist as he navigates the London’s underworld of theft and violence, searching for a home, a family, and - most importantly - for love. When Oliver is picked up on the street by a boy named the Artful Dodger, he is welcomed into a gang of child pickpockets led by the conniving, but charismatic, Fagin. When Oliver is falsely accused of a theft he didn’t commit, he is rescued by a kind and wealthy gentleman, to the dismay of Fagin’s violent sidekick, Bill Sikes. Caught in the middle is the warm-hearted Nancy, who is trapped under Bill’s thumb, but desperate to help Oliver, with tragic results. With spirited, timeless songs like “As Long as He Needs Me,” “Food, Glorious Food,” and “Where Is Love,” Oliver! is a musical classic.

Lead Characters


Oliver! guide sections