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Review of Unexpected Twist at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

This new stage adaptation by Roy Williams of Michael Rosen's Unexpected Twist is a very important piece of theatre. Much like a pantomime's appeal, this special little production could be key to a lifetime of theatre activity for young people who experience it. The production, directed by James Dacre, ticks so many of the boxes to make this interesting for them, talk of mobile phones, streetwise kids at the stories centre, R&B, and beatboxing. It is as down with the kids and as cool as any Royal & Derngate Made in Northampton production I have seen and in arrangement with The Children's Theatre Partnership this is something very special.

Not to say that this show is just for kids, as this is as much for grown-ups as well. Rosen's story takes Charles Dickens Oliver Twist, and wait for it, twists a new story from it while linking brilliantly to the trials of life and families in 2023. You see, every modern character in this story sees their world collide with another in Dickens' original story.

Our Oliver of this story is new school arrival Shona (Drew Hylton), who with her dad (Thomas Vernal) has seen endless financial woes. Traveling from place to place, fleeing landlord after landlord, Shona yearns for a stable and secure life. Her latest school class, presided over by the equally troubled Miss Cavani (Rosie Hilal), is studying Oliver Twist, and as they progress through it, they are haunted by the ghostly spectres of their likenesses in the novel.

Unexpected Twist is full of superb performances, with a company of brilliant skill. Hylton's performance in particular is stunning, exuding such emotion from her performance, and vocally, she brings Yaya Bey and Conrad Murray's superb songs to life like no other. She is such a talent at such a young age, that so much beckons ahead of her in her future career.

Alex Hardie is equally skilled in his role as Gazz, but a little different, as he is the show's main Beatbox champion, and what a skill he has. The character of Gazz is interesting enough but coupled with the need to maintain the biggest part of the human-created soundscape in this show, his skills are overwhelming. Another star-making performance.

Tino played by Alexander Lobo Moreno presents an initially likable character and he has great stage presence and confidence. His character evolves into a character you have to dislike despite the charm and coolness that Moreno exudes. The rest of the kids, Rosie (Nadine Rose Johnson), Desree (Kate Donnachie), and Rasheda (Liyah Summers) complement the rest of the cast brilliantly, with Donnachie in particular very strong on vocals and teenage moves and style.

Director James Dacre has done his usual classy job on this, with the usual flair and sharp blackouts he is famous for at the fore. The design from Frankie Bradshaw is extremely clever, with the whole piece created upon a gymnasium and changing room set. There is also some exceptional lighting design from Rory Beaton, with brilliant blackouts, dynamic lighting upon climbing frames, and the use of spots toward the end of the show that is truly a very special moment.

The whole show ends with a curtain call like no other as Donnachie leads an amazing beatbox contest from all of the cast and Hylton shows that even at the end of the show there is just that bit more left in the tank for an incredibly unexpected bit of athleticism.

Unexpected Twist is a show that you should get to see. Maybe there are some who won't like the music style in this piece, but if you can get by that and see that for what it is, and what it represents, you will see an extremely good show emerge. The show is recommended for ages eight and above, and the more of those kids that get to this, the better for theatre lives for them beyond this one show.

Innovative and bold and an incredibly important piece of theatre not to be missed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½


EPILOGUE: A final comment on Unexpected Twist from a very personal level as this is James Dacre's final show as a director before he leaves his role of ten years as artistic director at Royal & Derngate. As a result of this, it is also an end of an era for me as well, as the very first play I saw at the theatre was A Tale of Two Cities (see the Dickens link there) in 2014, the first play directed here by Dacre. So, I will see a new world, a Brave New World, at Royal & Derngate for the first time, but at that end, I thank Dacre for everything that he has done for the theatre, and its audiences for ten years. Oh, and my favourite, if anyone wants to know, is The Two Popes.

Performance reviewed: Wednesday 15th February 2023 at the Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton.

Unexpected Twist is at Royal & Derngate until 25th February 2023 before touring until June.

For further details about the Royal & Derngate and to book tickets see their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Production photos: Manuel Harlan


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