The UWI Festival Arts Chorale (in association with the Faculty of Humanities and Education), will present five performances only of the award-winning Broadway musical comedy Oliver! at Queen’s Hall: Thursday June 28th through to Sunday July 1st 2007.

Oliver! is the award-winning musical based on the Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist. In the hands of composer Lionel Bart, this dark subject matter about the maltreatment of children in Victorian England is translated to an almost sunny (and many times comedic) musical. Oliver! is the story of a young boy, living in a grim orphanage, who simply yearns for more ‘food’. He is then sold into virtual slavery, but runs away to London and joins a gang of young thieves run by a “kindly” miser Fagin -- who adopts Oliver and adds him to his lovable rascals. However, misadventure causes Oliver to be caught on his first outing as an apprentice robber, but all ends well when he meets the kindly Mr. Brownlow; which leads to a surprising climax.

Featuring such classic songs as Consider Yourself; Food Glorious Food; As Long As He Needs Me; and I’d Do Anything, Oliver! promises again to be the highlight of the summer season. Oliver is portrayed by former young calypso monarch Allan Clelland-Goddard, and the Artful Dodger by another former calypso monarch Dimitri Pollard – both making their debuts in musical theatre. They are part of a talented cast, over half of which are children between the ages of 9 and 13. This is in keeping with the UWI Festival Arts Chorale’s objective of highlighting the emerging talents of the children of our country.

The production is once again directed by Louis Mc Williams; while Jessel Murray, is the music director and conductor. The team of Hazel Franco (choreographer); Kwynn Johnson (set designer); and Paulette Alfred (costume designer) all return to lend their special talents to the production. The National Sinfonia will once again provide the musical accompaniment.