Unexpected Twist – The Lowry

Michael Rosen is a British children’s author, poet, presenter, political columnist, broadcaster, and activist who has written 140 books. Rosen wrote ‘Unexpected Twist’ in 2018 which is the re-telling of the Charles Dickens classic ‘Oliver Twist’ – Michael Rosen has combined the two stories into one, with his modern story ‘Unexpected Twist’ and the 1838 Dickens classic that he states inspired it.

The two stories allegedly twist together unexpectedly, set in modern-day, teenager Shona (Drew Hylton) lives with her single dad (Thomas Vernal) and relies on benefits to survive. They have been forced to move due to a familiar cycle of debt of her unemployed father following the death of her beloved mother – moving means yet another school to attend an all too cyclic event for Shona.

On her first day at yet another new school, you see her schoolmates laughing and joking about each other being poor when they can clearly afford more than their new classmate. Shona feels isolated as usual and quickly admits to the class that she doesn’t even have a phone like her peers, Shona is given one by a boy in the class in return for a favour – but the question is what does she need to do as a favour to receive this expensive gadget?

Shona quickly falls in with the wrong crowd who lure her into a street life of crime and corruption, with the promise of not only a working phone but to have the latest mobile phone she falls prey to an all too familiar way of gangs and organised drug running.

In school Miss Cavani (Rosie Hilal) an English Literature teacher is teaching her pupils the classic Dicken’s tale Oliver Twist, where it soon becomes apparent that young Shona’s life has significant parallels between herself and Oliver. Miss Cavani seems that through the years she has desperately tried to convince her pupil past and present to stay on a law-abiding path, as she has seen far too many of her pupils end up in prison or deceased due to organised crime. Miss Cavani is a modern-day Nancy from the classic Oliver Twist as she herself is hiding a problem of domestic violence at the hands of her boyfriend and can relate to coercive behaviour and influences.

Shona’s classmates, Tino the modern day ‘Artful Dodger’ (Alexander Lobo Moreno) and Gazz who embodies Charles Bates the side kick to Dodger (Alex Hardie) are the ones who introduce her to the streets current boss known as ‘Pops’ (James Meteyard) modern day Bill Sykes and it is him who quickly gets Shona to start working for her money and the phone. Never having known money or valuable possessions Shona is easily manipulated to take risks as a drug/money runner. Shona believes she can use the illicit cash to improve her and her father’s living situation but doesn’t realise initially the depth she is getting into.

Shona has relocated to the area to be near her nan (Polly Lister), and quickly you learn that even her own mum’s maternal mother is a modern-day Fagin, mixed in with the street crime she is complicit in money laundering and helping the dealer ‘Pops’ maintain his illicit activities.

Eventually things work out for Shona just like Oliver Twist and insteps a long lost relative and she manages to escape the organised crime gang that would of pull her deeper and deeper into corruption and the inevitably a tragic ending. Both Dickens and Rosen’s stories show us how poverty can distort our moral thinking, impact on short-term decisions which lead to grievous and life-long consequences. 

The Creative Team and Production Team have done a sterling job to produce Rosen’s ‘Unexpected Twist’ as the staging, set design, sound, lighting significantly enhances the story telling. One of the most impressive features of the production is that all the music and sounds are created from the mouths of the cast, there are no instruments only the human vocal rhythm of beatboxing, R&B, rap, and soul music.

The 20 or so songs Yaya Bey and Conrad Murray have written for the production are not particularly catchy or even memorable, with titles such as: ‘You Aint Got A Phone’, ‘I’ve Got A Phone’ and ‘No More Chips’! However, there are some heart-warming lyrics in a couple of the numbers where we see Hylton packing a powerful punch with her exceptional vocals, leaving no doubt that this young actress is one to watch for in the future. Thomas Vernal (dad) equally has outstanding vocals and provided us with some tender moments during the show with the bond he has with his stage daughter Shona and vulnerability he shows due to his failings as a father.

The set is simple whilst effective and versatile as the design enabled the stage to transform from a classroom to a playground, to the gang’s den and to a market square. The versatility enabled the classroom lockers on either side to be pulled out to create the market stall with rails of clothing.

Steps on both side of the stage lead to part of the set where doors are positioned high above stage level that facilitated the original characters of Dicken’s Oliver Twist to appear and play their part in the modern twist of Rosen’s production.

Overall, there was no unexpected twist to Rosen’s tale, only the familiar trait that history repeats itself in different forms. Oliver may have stolen wallets and handkerchiefs for Fagan to gain from child exploitation whereas Pop manipulated a child for his needs but dealt in drugs as well as stolen goods.

I can see that this show will appeal to the younger generation, as it does tackle some important issues, however this is not a show for me personally. Some fabulously talent actors and actresses on the stage and I applaud them for their high energy and enthusiasm that they displayed throughout the show.

The show continues its run at The Lowry until Sunday May the 7th 2023 so grab a ticket for an evening of diversity and youth culture in this modern-day Oliver twist. https://thelowry.com/whats-on/michael-rosens-unexpected-twist/

Reviewer: Katie Leicester

Reviewed: 2nd May 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★