'Oliver'

Book and Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Music by Lionel Bart
Based on Charles Dicken's novel 'Oliver Twist'

The musical opens in the workhouse where the orphaned boys are entering the hall for lunch which as usual is gruel. Oliver is brave (or foolish) enough to ask for more and as a result is told to gather his belongings by Mr Bumble, the heartless master of the workhouse. He is then apprenticed to Mr Sowerberry, an undertaker

Life with the Sowerberrys is made more unbearable by Noah Claypole the bullying boy who oversees Oliver's work. They get into a scrap and Mr Bumble is sent for, Oliver is locked in a coffin but manages to escape and runs away.

He meets up with the Artful Dodger who introduces him to Fagin and his gang of pickpockets. He is taught how to steal handkerchiefs but thinks that the boys make them rather than steal them.

He soon meets Nancy, girlfriend of Bill Sykes a thoroughly nasty piece of work who abuses Nancy. She stays with him because she loves him. Nancy and Oliver instantly like each other and she takes a motherly interest in him.

Oliver is sent out on his first pickpocketing job with Artful Dodger and another lad. When they rob Mr Brownlow a wealthy man, Dodger and the other lad run off leaving Oliver to be arrested. He is cleared of the crime but Mr Brownlow decides to take him home.

Bill and Fagin, fearful that Oliver will reveal their hideaway, decide he must be kidnapped. Mr Brownlow sends Oliver out on an errand and he is caught by Nancy and Bill who bring him back to Fagin. Meanwhile Mr Bumble and his wife learn that Oliver is probably the relative of someone wealthy and visit Mr Brownlow hoping for a reward. He throws them out but onlooking at the picture in the locket they brought he sees a picture of his daughter and realises Oliver must be his grandson.

Nancy visits Mr Brownlow and promises to deliver Oliver at midnight on London Bridge. She is followed by Bill Sykes who knocks Oliver unconcious then beats Nancy to death before running off with Oliver. Mr Brownlow arrives to find Nancy's body and a large crowd soon forms. Bill's dog Bullseye is spotted and the crowd follow him to Fagin's den where they find no-one as Fagin and the gang have fled. They return to the bridge where Bill appears with Oliver and threatens to kill him. Bill is shot by two policemen, Oliver is reunited with Mr Brownlow and the crowd go off in search of Fagin who decides this might be the time to give up his life of crime and go straight.