Theatre / tobacco factory theatres
Tobacco Factory Theatres celebrates success of Oliver Twist with special community performance
Now approaching the end of its seven-week run, Oliver Twist has undoubtedly been a hugely successful show for Tobacco Factory Theatres.
As the first production under TFT new artistic director and CEO Heidi Vaughan, this contemporary and thoroughly Bristol-inflected adaptation of Dickens’ enduring story injects the characters with more humour and hope than their Victorian counterparts were permitted.
The show was written by Olivier Award-winning Bristol-based playwright Adam Peck, underpinned by musical compositions from Seamas Carey; the pair also co-wrote the many memorable songs that mark key moments in the narrative.
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Defender Nyanhete as Oliver in Oliver Twist
And yet, beyond assembling a great creative team and directing a commercially successful show, for Vaughan, one of the key tenets of creative success is for Tobacco Factory Theatres is for that show to reach all corners of the local community.
As a result, for the first time, TFT will be hosting a special community performance of Oliver Twist where all tickets are free for local youth projects, refugee charities who support asylum seekers, local schools and organisations working with people with additional needs.
On the afternoon of Friday January 19, invited organisations set to attend this special extra show include Imayla CIC, Diverse Artists Network, and groups from Compass Point and Parson Street primary schools in Bedminster.
Beverly Rudd as Fagin
“Tobacco Factory Theatres are passionate about making theatre truly accessible to everyone,” says Vaughan. “While we’re proud to offer affordable concessionary tickets and Financial Difficulty ticket options across our programme, we are fully aware that the reality of the cost-of-living crisis is hitting our community hard and we need to go that one step further.
“Thanks to the huge generosity and support of Theatre Works, who are a charity dedicated to providing theatre and related educational experiences to children and young people who might not normally have access to the theatre, 175 free tickets have been made available to local children, with further 100 tickets offered to community groups and charities by TFT for our production of Oliver Twist.
“We’re also very grateful to Marshfield Ice Cream who have very kindly donated delicious ice-creams for all attenders. I really can’t wait to personally welcome a full house for this special community performance of Oliver Twist to round off a record-breaking run for a Christmas Show at TFT and enjoy an ice-cream too!”
Tom Fletcher as Dodger
Oliver Twist (age recommendation 7+) is at Tobacco Factory Theatres until January 21 2024 at 7pm, with additional matinee shows at the weekend. Tickets are available at www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com.
All photos: Camilla Adams
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