Oliver

Oliver ... a musical staged by Waterloo & Crosby Theatre Company at Merchant Taylor’s School, Liverpool Road, Crosby on Saturday 5th July, 2025.

I hope I’m not being too presumptuous when I suggest that most, if not all of us will know the rags to riches Dickensian story of Oliver so, I won’t bore you with a lengthy synopsis. Based on the 1838 novel Oliver Twist written by Charles Dickens, this Lionel Bart musical premiered at the Wimbledon Theatre London in 1960 before opening in the West End that same year where it enjoyed an initial record-breaking run of 2,618 performances. It’s timeless score, includes songs like Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long as he Needs Me and many more. Winner of Olivier, Tony and Oscar awards, this theatre masterpiece vividly brings to life Dickens’ ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more!

Production Team ... tasked with leading us through the murky streets of London we had Nicci Henshaw (Director), Gerry Harrison (Musical Director) and Gia Mulligan (Choreographer) and what a great job they made of this production and I’m already going to ‘stick the old neck out’ and suggest, in my opinion, that this was possibly one, if not the best, WCTC production I’ve had the pleasure of attending! Great cast who, as soon as those curtains parted, gave their all and when that happens, there’s very little more you can ask! Special mention to Gia Mulligan for her simple, yet creative choreography that blended perfectly with the period and enhanced the show ever so much. I made comment about the ‘young dancers’ who shone throughout this production, Gia must take credit for them and their performance!     

The Cast ... this was a ‘huge cast’ with some of the ‘principal roles’ being shared. I think I would be right in suggestion that we had a cast of forty-five... who I’d like to introduce now...  Wilfred Archer - Oliver (shared with Oscar Henry); Les Gomersall – Fagin; Stuart Gray – Bill Sikes;  Sarah Henchskelt – Nancy (shared with Gia Mulligan); Jonah Hargreaves - Artful Dodger (shared Daniel Housley); Barry Prescot – Mr Bumble; Helen McLoughlin – Widow Corney; Will Martin - Mr Sowerberry ; Liz Kewley – Mrs Sowerberry; Grace O’Rourke – Bet (shared with Freya Maddock); Matthew Hargreaves – Mr Brownlow; Jennifer Hargreaves – Mrs Bedwin; Isaac Arnold – Noah Claypole, Daniel Bagot– Charley Bates (shared role with Zachary Kewley) and Evie Baird – Charlotte. Ensemble ... (Adult) Alex Faulkner, Ian Robinson, Jason Sinclair, Andrew McLeod.  (Children) Daniel Bagot, Nancy Dickman, Poppy Grant, Chloe Quinn, Lucy Riley, Emelie Lai, Lyndon Jones, Caitlin Jones, Libby Wilson, Nieve Marshall, Isabella Jones and Cheryl Tai. (Youth Dancers) Scarlett Roberts (Dance Captain), Jessica Dearden, Georgie Wilson, Alice Dearden, Olivia Housley, Freya Maddock, Emily Wall, Jemmima Hargreaves, Grace O’Rourke, Grace Pearce, Amelie Porter, Chloe Kewley and Matilda Dorrity.  Time for MY ‘show stealer’ and MY favourite characters... which wasn’t easy, made even harder when I tell you that my ‘Show Stealer’ ... were the fourteen ‘YOUTH DANCERS’ named above!  At the post show cast meet ... I by-passed the principals and spoke straight away about this group of young dancers, who in ‘my eyes’ lifted the show to new heights every time they came on stage.  They gave us effort, energy, enthusiasm... all done with the biggest of smiles on their faces ... be very proud... it’s usually a ‘principal’ that ‘steals a show’, but when people work as hard as you did with huge smiles on your faces ... then why not YOU!  I really couldn’t separate my first two favourites...  Les Gomersall’s Fagin and Stuart Gray’s Sikes. Two totally believable characters created, who worked ever so well with the entire cast! I’ve seen Les do so many roles, only a couple of weeks ago he was ‘treading the boards’ in My Fair Lady playing Eliza’s father, a part that suited him down to the ground and this was another role that could have been written for him!  I saw Stuart for the first time last year when he took on the roles of ‘The Grinch’ in ‘The Grinch’ and ‘Eddy’ in ‘Stags and Hens’, both of which he did with style! Sikes is an ‘iconic role’ with plenty of expectation associated with the character and Stuart did it his way to great effect. Sometimes, this character can be over played, but Stuart’s approach for me was just right... nasty, evil, aggressive, but never over the top ... ‘I really did hate him’ ... in a good way and what about his side-kick ... ‘Bullseye’ aka ‘William’.... the ‘spit’ of the dog used in the film... be proud Stuart, be proud William!  So many others performed well... young Wilfred Archer gave us a wonderful Oliver; Barry Prescot was suitably parochial and self-serving as Mr Bumble and with Helen McLoughlin, his love interest playing Widow Corney, they gelled together well as did Sarah Henchskelt as Nancy with Grace O’Rourke as Bet. If I haven’t mentioned you directly, don’t think that you weren’t noticed, you all added something to this production and as I said up front in this show report... I did think this was one, if not the best production I’ve seen you guys’ stage!

Stage/Tech/Design... as always with a WCTC productions, the set/scenery was purpose build in house and worked really well affording everything needed to make this production flow! As always the man behind it all was Colin Wilson (Stage Manager) with his trustee DSM Niall Quigley, their team included Robin Leyland, Sandra Quigley, Neil Kenny, PJ Green and Ava Winterton.  Scenery and Props ... made by a whole host of members too many to name, but you know who you are, be very proud of your efforts.
Sound... sound at Merchant Taylors has always been an issue, but I did feel that it was as good if not better than it’s ever been ... under the watchful eye of Kevin Ainscough.
Lighting ... I’m told that the lighting plot failed and had to be operated manually. On a good day, Merchant’s isn’t the easiest place to light, especially the way the musical was set up with lots of coming and goings from off stage into the auditorium... but it worked and worked well... set up by Alex and Poppy Sinclair, operated on the night I attended by P.J. Green, with Heather Sinclair doing a great job on ‘Follow Spot’.  Well done guys.

Costumes ... were excellent both in quality and design ... they certainly added and enhanced this production... created and designed by Nicci Henshaw, Lisa Wall, Louise Dearden, Kate Archer, Lisa Grant and Clare Hyams... be proud ladies!

Chaperones... as you’ll note reading this show report, it takes many people to put a show on stage … but whenever we have a ‘young person’ or ‘young people’ involved, then it is essential that we have the services of our ‘chaperones’!  Without these selfless, amazing volunteers who help provide the ‘safe and secure environment’ needed to allow these young people to perform, shows like this could not happen. For this production those dedicated volunteers were led by Lisa Wall, unfortunately the others aren’t named, but you will know who you are.... we thank you so much for your involvement, your dedication and your time!

Thank you so much for inviting Susan and I and for your hospitality and attention throughout ...
thanks for allowing me to meet and speak with the cast post show.  Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed the production as I think everyone there that night did ... be ever so proud! 

Stay safe, Keep well ...
Stronger Together
Jim Briscoe ...
NODA NW District 6 Rep

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