BOADS celebrating 100 years on stage at Brixham Theatre with performances of Oliver!

This year marks the centenary of Brixham Operatic and Dramatic Society and they will be taking that much-loved musical Oliver! to Brixham Theatre - the stage where this enduring drama organisation has performed since 1922, writes JEAN REID, Brixham Operatic and Dramatic Society.

The famous tale of the poor workhouse orphan Oliver Twist made an early impact on the Torbay public during a reading of the novel by author Charles Dickens in 1867 and its musical adaptation and memorable songs by Lionel Bart remains a firm favourite to this day.

The show will boast a full orchestra under the musical directorship of John Budden and the cast have been working hard on the ever popular numbers Oom Pah Pah!, Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself and many others.

Nikki Collings, BOADS' leading lady in 2013’s Oklahoma, will be playing the lovable and strong character Nancy.

Her surly counterpart as Bill Sikes is this time around played by Jamie Brown, who fills many roles off stage too, from theatre artwork design to scenery as well as being design consultant to Brixham Theatre.

John Miles is well known to many local audiences through his work directing and acting for TOADS and he is relishing the opportunity to reprise the role of Fagin, which he has played for BOADS on previous occasions.

A love of theatre seems to be ‘inherited’ by younger players in the society as they have four parent/grandparent and child cast members, who are enjoying the opportunity to appear alongside one another.

Young Harry Powder, aged eight, who plays the lead as Oliver, shares the stage with his grandmother, Annie Powder, who is also treading the boards for the first time.

Isabel White, the musical’s director said: “We passed the Fagin’s Gang sequence this year over to our junior membership, whose ages range from six to ten.

"These children are not products of a dance or a stage school but local children who love the Oliver story and want to be involved. We are sure you will find them enchanting.”

The musical takes place at Brixham Theatre on October 26 to 29 at 7.30pm plus a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday 29.