OLIVER TWIST
Opening : At the workhouse
Children arrive from front and back doors onto stage carrying bowls and singing opening song. Children
march and do movements according to song on film. During song Bumble and Wife serve from large
bowl on stage. Children sit.
SONG: Food Glorious Food
End of song and all stand.
Bumble: Eat.
(Children do! Oliver’s table near front.)
Boy 1: Go on Oliver. You do it.
Boy 2: Yeah. Go on!
Boy 3: You do it. Go on.
Boy 4: We’re starving!
Oli: What do I have to say?
(All Boys: Gather in and whisper. Oliver nods and stands. Oliver walks nervously down to Bumble. Looks
back. Boys nod and shoo him on. Gets to Bumble. All boys straining to watch.
Bumble looks fit to burst as does wife.)
Oli: Please Sir, can I have some more?
Bumble: WHAT?????
Oli: Please Sir, can I have some more?
Bumble: MORE????
(Oliver runs off.)
Bumble: Grab him.
(Workhouse helpers chase and eventually catch him. Boys all cheering and clapping and banging bowls.
Take him to Bumble)
Bumble: What is your name boy?
Oli: Oliver… Oliver Twist
Mrs B: You named him yourself, Bumble.
Bumble: So that’s who he is eh… Oliver
SONG 2: OLIVER
(During song Mrs Bumble and Mr Bumble stand with Oliver, poke at him and pull his ears. They put his
hat on, give him a coat and shoes and lead him out. At end of song, stage clears and Bumble and Oliver
re-enter from back. )
Oliver: What’s happening?
Bumble: You are leaving the workhouse. I’m selling you into service boy. More indeed.
Blacksmith enters from other side with Baker, Grocer and Candle stick maker.
Bumble: Blacksmith! Are you in need of a young assistant? He’s a hard worker? 5 Guineas. What do you
say?
Blacksmith: (Investigates Oliver)Not for me mate.
Mrs Bumble: What about you. Very strong for his size. 3 guineas. A bargain.
Grocer: No thanks! Got all the help I need.
Bumble: Surely you Sir – 2 guineas!
Baker: No chance. He wouldn’t last a week.
Mrs Bumble: 1 guinea then. Works from dawn til dusk.
Candlestick maker: No ta mate.
(Undertaker watching at back. Comes forward)
Undertaker: Let’s have a look at him. (Looks very closely at Oliver) What’s his background?
Bumble: Mother was destitute. Gives birth to him. Takes one look and promptly shuffles off this mortal
coil.
Undertaker’s wife: No family?
Mrs Bumble: Didn’t leave a forwarding address. Right mystery this one I can tell you.
Undertaker: He looks terrible!
Undertaker’s wife: Awful!
Undertaker: He’s skinny.
Undertaker’s wife: Scrawny.
Both: He’s ideal.
Undertaker: We’ll have him. (Hands over money)
Mr Bumble: Be good Oliver Twist. Be good.
Narrator 1: Oliver worked at Scribbins’ Undertakers for a while.
N2: He was badly treated
N3: Beaten
N4: Worked into the ground
N1: Half starved.
N2: Locked in the cellar
N3: With the rats
N4: He could take it no more when the Scribbins mocked his poor dead mother.
Undertaker: You’re a good for nothing.
Undertaker’s wife: Just like your mother!
Oliver: Don’t you talk about my mother.
N1: Oliver punched her on her miserable nose
N1: And ran off into the streets of London.
N2: He was alone again with no-one to care for him
SONG 3: WHERE IS LOVE
(At end of song streets, become full of traders etc. Oliver notices Dodger looking around and eying up
potential pick pocket victims. Dodger notices Oliver.)
Dodger: Oi what you looking at eh? Ain’t you ever seen a toff?
Oliver: What’s a toff?
Dodger: A gentleman. A man of money and social graces (Bows)
Oliver: I didn’t mean any harm.
Dodger: (Steals bread) That’s alright mate. No harm done. You hungry?
Oliver: Very. (Dodger throws bread. Oliver walks over) I haven’t eaten for days. I’ve run away.
Dodger: From the beak?
Oliver: The what?
D: The beak! For your information the beak is a magistrate.
Oliver: No I’m not running from the beak.
D: Who then? Your old man?
O: No. I’m an orphan.
D: So you’re alone. (Oliver nods) Money? (O shakes head) So I’m supposing you need somewhere to
sleep tonight?
O: Yes please. Do you know any where?
D: (Pretending to think) Erm…. As it so happens I know a respectable old gentleman who could give you
lodging for nothing.
O: For nothing?
D: Abso blinking lutely
O: He must be very kind
D: Yes.. yes.. very kind. If you’re coming to live with us, I’d best know your name.
Oliver: Oliver… Oliver Twist
D: Pleased to meet you Oliver. My name is Jack Dawkins but I’m better known as the Artful Dodger.
(Shake hands) Now let’s go and find your new family.
SONG 4 : CONSIDER YOURSELF
(During song Oliver and Dodger sing. At the front other pickpockets enter and join in with singing. Turn
stage into Fagin’s hideout. Dodger and Oliver re-enter)
(Enter Fagin)
Charlie: Dodger’s bought a new friend to see you Fagin. This is Oliver.
Oliver: Sir
Fagin: I’m very glad to meet you Oliver, very glad (shakes hand). Aren’t we my dears?
Boys: Course we are, yeah etc (Go through Oliver’s stuff.)
Fagin: Leave him alone. Dodger tells me you have come to seek your fortune my dear.
O: Yes sir.
F: We must see what we can do to help you.
O: Thank you sir. Mr Fagin sir. What are all those handkerchiefs? Is this a laundry?
Boys: (laughing) Yeah course it is!
F: No Oliver my dear… our line of business pays a little better, don’t it boys?!
Boys: Not half Fagin!
F: You see, my dear, it’s like this…
SONG 5: YOU’VE GOT TO PICK A POCKET OR TWO
(During song boys and Oliver practise picking Fagin’s pocket. End flashing Oliver their booty)
F: Put it all back in the box (Boys do, except one). All of it. (Boy returns one more trinket) Ah-hem! (Boy
returns final piece. Fagin kicks his bottom) We’ve all been hard at work today haven’t we my dears
Boys: Yeah Fagin
Fagin: What you got Dodger.
D: Couple of wallets (Gets them out)
F: Very nice, my dear, very nice. What you got Charlie?
Charlie: Couple of silk hankies and a watch.
F: Good quality eh Oliver? (Oliver nods) Do you want to get wallets like dodger and watches like Charlie?
O: I think so Mr Fagin. If you’ll teach me.
F: Certainly. Won’t we boys?
Boys: Definitely, yeah, too right, course we will.
F: Just do everything Dodger and the others do. (Oliver tries to pickpocket the hankies. Fagin makes it
easy for him. Dodger then tries and is of course excellent)
F: Dodger’s the best. He’s going to be as good as Bill Sykes.
O: Who is Bill Sykes?
F: You’ll meet him tomorrow. Now bedtime all of you. (All boys go to bed)
Sweet dreams Oliver. Sweet dreams.
(Fagin leaves stealthily down front with a sack. Boys clear stage. Fagin and pub dwellers enter from sides)
F: Bill Sykes here yet?
Girl: No but Nancy is in there waiting for him.
Enter Bill. (VERY moody.) Fagin undoes sack. Bill fills with booty. No emotion on face. Fagin looking
around nervously. Bill makes a sign saying money.
F: I’ll pay you tomorrow Bill. You have my word. (Fagin scuttles off. Bill goes over to Nancy and pours a
drink.
Nancy: Good day Bill?
Bill: Fine
Nancy: fine?
Bill: Fine
SONG 6: IT’S A FINE LIFE
(End of song Bill drains drink. Gestures to Nancy and they walk off together)
Narrator 4: The next day Fagin and his boys are up bright and early when they have a visitor. Bill Sykes
girlfriend, Nancy.
Nancy: Aye aye. Morning all.
(All boys rush over. Oliver stays back. Nancy says hi to all boys then notices Oliver)
Nancy: Well what have we got here then?
Dodger: This is Oliver.
Charlie: Our new lodger.
Boy 1: He’s one of the family, Nancy, you know what I mean?
Fagin: This is Oliver (Oliver bows. Nancy smiles curtseys)
N: Charmed I’m sure. What a gent.
Dodger: Like us all Nancy. I’m just off to the Palace in my private carriage if you’d care to join me. The
queen is expecting us.
N: Delighted to. (Boys form a carriage)
SONG 7: I’D DO ANYTHING
F: You’d do anything for me would you?
Boys: Course.
F: Get to work!!! (Boys get ready to go)
N: Fagin, I’m waiting.
F: Waiting?
N: Bill’s money.
F: Take it. Take it all. Leave me and my boys to starve.
N: Behave Fagin you do alright. And the rest (Fagin hands over more) you don’t really want to mess Bill
about.
F: True true. Here. (Gives it all) Right boys you ready?
SONG 8: BE BACK SOON
(Busy street scene. Enter Dodger, Charlie and Oliver. Try and fail to pick pocket of man. Oliver watching.
Doesn’t run as wallet taken. )
Mr Brownlow: Give it back boy. Hand it over. Give me my wallet back. (Oliver runs)Stop! Thief!
(Dodger and Charlie run off through hall. Oliver runs and gets chased across stage and back and back
again through legs etc. Eventually captured and taken off. Dodger and Charlie creep back on at front
during scene)
Charlie: On no! Fagin’ll kill us…
(They run off shouting for Fagin through doors at front and back on. Meanwhile Fagin, Bill Nancy and
boys enter stage)
Dodger: Oliver got knicked! (Total shock from every one. Anger from Bill)
F: Why didn’t you look after him?
Bill: So what if he gets sent down?
F: Oliver’s in the lock up and who’s he going to point the finger at eh? How long before the old bill knock
on that door, eh How long?
Bill: Well Fagin, that is your problem ain’t it?
F: If the game was up for me, Bill my old friend, the game might be up for… a good many more people.
Bill: Why you miserable…. Sneaky (Goes to get Fagin. Nancy stops him) Get down that court room and
see what happens with the boy. I’m not going down Fagin. I’m warning you… I’m never going down.
Nancy: Fagin can’t go to court…. I will. They won’t know me. I’ll let you know what happens to Oliver.
Courtroom
(Nancy and Dodger there)
Judge: Silence in court!
(Everyone rises. Judge beckons. They all sit. Judge reads notes)
Judge: So it’s you in trouble… Pickpocketing eh? Does your father know you’re here?
Ol: I’m an orphan.
Judge: Where do you live? Who looks after you?
(Oliver doesn’t answer)
Judge: Insolence! Boy you’re a liar a thief and incredibly rude. I sentence you to three months hard
labour.
Grocer: Stop! I will speak. I saw it all outside my shop. It was two other boys who took the wallet, not
him.
Mr Brownlow: I’m sorry for accusing you. At least I can make some amends. You can come with me?
Oliver: Where?
Mr Brownlow: home with me.
(Leave court)
Dodger: Fagin won’t like this. I best follow him. Oliver might still blab.
Nancy: Leave him be.
(Dodger doesn’t know what to do)
Dodger: Sorry Nancy. Fagin will tan my backside if I don’t follow him. (Follows Oliver to Brownlow’s
house)
N4: Oliver had been at Brownlow’s house for a couple of weeks.
N5: He was clean, well fed and for the first time ever...happy.
SONG 9: WHO WILL BUY?
(During song Bill and Nancy watching)
Bill: We’ve got to get him back. Nancy?
N: No. Leave him be. Leave him where he has a chance for a good life?
Bill: You will get him back my girl... You will. (Raises stick) Even if I have to force you and I mean FORCE.
Mr Brownlow: Oliver. Morning Oliver. How are you?
Oliver: I’m very well thank you.
Mr Brownlow: I have a few jobs to do then we’ll see if we can’t go to the park later.
Oliver: Shall I do some errands for you.
Mr Br: That would be splendid! Here, these books need to go to Mr Jessopp. So does this money.
Oliver: I know where the shop is. Is it where we went last week? I’ll be very quick.
Mr Br: Off you go then my boy.
(Mr Brownlow looks at picture on wall)
Mr Br: it’s remarkable how similar Oliver is…
Housekeeper: That’s your niece isn’t it?
Mr Br: Yes
Housekeeper: didn’t she run away about ten years ago?
Mr Br: Yes and Oliver is about ten.
Housekeeper: you don’t mean you think he could be her son?
Mr Br: I don’t know but I will try to find out.
(Oliver leaves house Nancy and Bill follow. Bill pushes Oliver to a corner)
Oliver: Mr Sykes!
Bill: Oliver. I think you should come back with me. And I’ll have those. (Takes money and books)
Oliver: Mr Brownlow will be after you if you take those.
Bill: What have you told him boy?
O: Nothing, nothing at all. (Oliver kicks Bill and runs off. Bill roars and gives chase. About to beat Oliver
with stick. Nancy intervenes)
N: No Bill. You’ll have to kill me before I let you lay a finger on him! You touch him and I’m straight to
the police. Straight to the police. (Bill stops and stares) I wish I never helped get Oliver back.
Bill: Well you did help me and I will see you later at the tavern. Nancy… I will see you... mark my words
(Nancy runs off)
Bill: You come on. You’re helping me pull a job tonight. If you give me any trouble… I’ll be taking the law
into my own hands and if anyone messes with me from now on and I mean anyone…Nancy…Fagin…you
Then I’ll… (Raises stick) Are we clear Oliver (Oliver nods)
(Drags Oliver off)
Mr Brownlow’s house
Mr Brownlow: So you knew Oliver?
Mr Bumble: Yes sir. At our workhouse he was.
Mr Br: And his mother?
Mrs Bumble This locket once belonged to the boy’s mother
(Mr Brownlow looks at locket looks at picture. Girl in picture wearing locket)
Mr Brownlow: My niece, my niece. I gave it to my niece on her 18th birthday.
Mr Bumble: So you are Oliver’s family
Mr Br: Indeed I am and this proves it.
(Nancy bursts in)
N: Oliver is in danger.
Mr B: Oliver? No? Where is he? What danger?
N: I can’t tell you…. But I’ll bring him to you. London Bridge… tonight at midnight. You’ve got to come
alone. Promise you’ll come alone
Mr B: I’ll be there
N: Thank you
Mr B: No thank you
N: I better go. He’ll kill me if he finds out
Mr B: who is this man?
N: I can’t say… I just can’t say
(Nancy runs off)
At tavern
Oompah pah played in background
N: It’s nearly midnight Fagin I’m worried
F: He said he’ll be here
N: What if it went wrong?
F: he said he’d be here
(Enter Bill and Oliver)
F: Everything alright Bill?
Bill: Nearly got caught. He woke them up we had to scarper.
F: Anyone follow you?
Bill: Don’t think so.
N: I’ll just take the boy off to bed
Bill: No. Put him back
( Nancy sits and thinks then looks around at people having fun. Looks at door. Looks at Oliver
Encourages them to sing and join in with
Oompah pah.
During song Fagin and Bill in deep conversation. Nancy snatches Oliver. Bill initially doesn’t notice. Sees
Nancy and Oliver at back of hall. Pushes through crowds and chases. Ends up back on stage. Enter Mr
Brownlow.
N: There he is see him
O: Thankyou Nancy.
(Hugs her during hug Bill grabs them both. Brownlow notices. Bill pushes Nancy into wings and raises
stick. Oliver sitting sobbing. Police whistles. Police rush in with Brownlow. Brownlow goes to Oliver.
Fagin watches as police drag Bill off)
F: boys we need new lodgings
SONG 10: Reviewing the situation
(During song Brownlow and Oliver hug as Fagin and boys leave)
Brownlow: You’re home now Oliver.
THE END