To celebrate Charles Dickens’s birth bicentenary, the Manoel Theatre, in collaboration with TNT Theatre Britain, will be staging an adaptation by PaulStebbings and Phil Smith of the author’s timelessclassic Oliver Twist.

Directed by Paul Stebbings with an original score by Thomas Johnson, Oliver Twist will be staged on Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.

Oliver Twist has been described as the first modern novel. It is one of the few novels whose characters have entered into modern myth – Fagin, Bill, Nancy and the Artful Dodger can claim to be some of the best known literary creations outside of Shakespeare.

The enormous energy of these characters and the full bloodied portrait of the first modern urban nightmare, London, make the story not only exciting and dramatic, but also truly contemporary.

The themes and social issues raised by Dickens are as relevant today as they were when the novel was published over 160 years ago.

The central theme is the link between poverty and crime. Beyond that it explores the way society treats its weakest members. Dickens’s style is highly theatrical, switching between the almost documentary to the comic, from action-packed narrative to emotional drama and indeed he himself gave dramatic readings of much of Oliver Twist to huge audiences in Britain and the US.

TNT sweep away the sentimentality of so many versions and present the story through the eyes of Fagin as he stands on the gallows awaiting execution. The story is his last attempt at justifying his life of crime.

In addition to powerful drama, comedy and fast moving action, the production has been highly praised for its a cappella score by Thomas Johnson, whose production of Hamlet is currently on tour in more than 20 countries. The action is developed through integrated song, using complex and exciting five-part harmony.

Booking is open at the Manoel Theatre and by e-mail: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt.