July 10, 2007
By Millicent Kgowedi
NOT even the cold, unusually wet winter morning stopped children from making their way to the National Children's Theatre (NCT) to watch the much anticipated production A Pocket Oliver Twist.
Warmly dressed and running around the NCT building, the children felt very comfy, despite the chill outside. Parents accompanying their kids chatted over hot coffee while their young ones played, rolled on the floor, ate chips and drank fizzy cold drinks.
With such a lovely audience, the cast was inspired to stage a winning performance. The production includes renowned actor David Sherwood, playing the villain Fagin.
Fourteen-year-old Justin Swarts, who started his acting career less than two years ago, plays Oliver. Jolie Renouf is Nancy and Lebo Mochudi is the street smart and devious Monks.
In this stage adaptation, multi-award winning Joyce Levinsohn, the artistic director of the NCT, has taken care to highlight the message from the Charles Dickens classic. She explained how the play mirrored many of the social problems facing South Africans today.
Born in the workhouse, Oliver Twist falls in with thieves. But he is eventually rescued by a benefactor called Brownlow, who adopts him. "Oliver is exposed to this family that steals but he is strong enough not to fall for their bad habits. This is what we need to teach our children, encourage them to be individuals and to be more responsible."
Parents and kids alike enjoyed the show, joining in with the action from the colourful carpets where they sat, close to the stage. Keen to take part, the kids nodded their heads and mumbled the lyrics of well-known songs such as Consider Yourself One Of Us, Glorious Food and You've Got To Pick a Pocket or Two.
The audience was delighted when artificial smoke billowed out to introduce a night scene at the London Bridge between Nancy and Brownlow. Here Nancy tells Brownlow where to find Oliver, advising him that he is the best person to adopt Oliver and rescue him from the bad company of Fagin's family.
Most children had either read the book or watched the movie. "I loved the movie so much I told my mother I've got to see Oliver on stage," said 11-year old James Eoois.
He had been to other theatres and always gathered acting skills, because he wants to act. "I will not forget my lines because I have a good memory," he added.
Five young cast members are all fairly new to acting - Debbie Diesel, Lavani Shkwambane, Swarts, Nonkululeko Ndhlovu and Daylan Leibrandt. "I attended the NCT workshops and had training for about a year-and-a-half," Diesel said.
Debbie Diesel, Lavani Shkwambane, Justin Swartz, Daylan Leibrandt and Nonkululeko Ndhovu are part of the cast of the play
Swarts said he enjoyed acting, "especially the Oliver character, and I like the attention I get from the audiences. I've appeared in newspapers before and I like the fame."
A Pocket Oliver Twist runs until Saturday, 4 August. During government school terms, performances are on weekdays at 10.30am and on Saturdays at 10.30am and 2.30pm. During the school holidays, performances are at 10.30am and 2.30pm on weekdays and on Saturdays.
Tickets are R65 for adults and R55 for children. Block bookings and specials are available for schools, groups and birthday parties. Bookings can be made through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or by calling the theatre on 011 484 1584.
The National Children's Theatre is at 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown.
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