Oliver Twist – Hull Truck Theatre – Winter 2025

A huge thank you to Hull Truck Theatre for inviting us to the press night of Oliver Twist. I took one of my 14-year-olds who has a keen interest in musical theatre and acting, and I knew we would both love it. l. We did! This is a brilliant Christmas show and one of Hull Truck’s best so far.

Not a panto, but the perfect alternative

Let’s be clear from the start. It is nothing like a panto. There is no “He’s behind you!”, no sparkly villains and no custard pies. That is exactly why it works so well. It is a great Christmas outing if you want something festive with a proper story, proper emotions and proper music, without all the glitter and mayhem (and cringe) that come with traditional pantomimes.

A quick nod to the team behind it

This version of Oliver Twist is written by Deborah McAndrew.
It is directed by Mark Babych.
The music is by John Biddle.

That is all you really need to know. The creative team clearly know how to put together something special.

What’s it about?

Hull Truck’s retelling stays close to Dickens’ original. Oliver starts life in hardship, arrives in London, falls in with Fagin’s gang and eventually finds safety and belonging. The show uses songs, movement and a warm Christmas feel without losing the darker edges of the story.

A quick note for families

This is a family-friendly show, but not one for very young children. There are some scary moments including childbirth, deaths, a murder or two, and allusions to domestic abuse. There is shouting and some corporal punishment. Capital punishment is mentioned. There is no swearing (that I noticed) and almost no sexual content. The ending is happy, which helps to balance the heavier bits. We think it is most suitable for ages ten and up, depending on your child.

There is a bar with plenty of soft drink options and ice-creams for the interval. Official programmes can be purchased at £4 each.

What we liked

The singing. The cast sound fantastic. The harmonies, the energy and the emotion are all excellent.
The comedy. Although the story has serious themes, there are some proper LOL moments.
The set and staging. The team achieve a lot with very little. Clever lighting, simple props and flexible costumes transform the stage into many different locations without clutter.
The pace. The story moves along nicely and is fairly easy to follow.

Our verdict

We have seen quite a few shows at Hull Truck and they never disappoint. This year’s Oliver Twist might be one of our favourites. It feels atmospheric and heartfelt, and has plenty of festive spirit without being overly sweet.

If you want a Christmas theatre trip with a strong story, great music and real emotional depth, and something very different from a panto, then Oliver Twist at Hull Truck Theatre is well worth seeing.

Running Time – 2 hours and 10 minutes including the interval

Disclosure: We attended as guests on press night and all opinions are our own.