“An innovative and exciting retelling of a classic Dickens story”.

The Children’s Theatre Partnership and Royal & Derngate, Northampton’s production of Michael Rosen’s Unexpected Twist is a fresh look at a centuries old story, which is brought right up to date with a beatbox soundtrack and an amazing cast.

Visiting a brand-new show is always exciting and not knowing what to expect is also a welcome prospect.  We obviously all know the story of Oliver Twist, however when it’s catapulted into the modern day, it shows that some things are still pretty similar.  Drew Hylton as Shona/Oliver is a shining star, with a beautiful vocal performance and stellar acting ability throughout.  She is a newcomer at school coming from a single parent family after loosing her Mum.  She joins the class of stereotypical adolescents who muck about in class, back chat the teacher and generally don’t try too hard.  The teacher, Miss Cavani (Rosie Hall) is trying to change the kids lives through literature and introducing them to the world of Oliver Twist, however there are many parallels that Shona finds herself inside the story.