Oliver Twist...with a twist!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2016

“Mike Friend, Neil Fisher and Annie Kirkman in rehearsals".

After a 3 week sell-out run in December 2015 at East Riding Theatre, UK, Oliver is here…. With a twist! As the West End comes to Lyttelton

Lyttelton Arts Factory will use a groundbreaking collaborative process to combine visiting UK professionals with local artists and primary school drama students this Christmas.

Artistic Director Mike Friend has further adapted Oliver Twist for Christchurch to celebrate local talent. Poet Ben Brown joins a live band led by Carmel Courtney featuring Devilish Mary & The Holy Rollers. Theatre lovers will recognise David Ladderman and Tom Trevella from Loons Circus Theatre Company successes The Butler, Macbeth and Happy Home Road (also directed by Mike Friend).

In this unique approach, these familiar faces along with Loons in Schools’ drama students will stand side by side with some of the UK’s finest- including Clive Kneller who has appeared in Royal Shakespeare Company productions and on Doctor Who.

Director Mike Friend says “The earthquake was a blessing in some ways, simply because the old venue, The Loons was so limited in its usage. Our new venue LAF offers full scale opportunities in the arts, festivals, touring companies, education and so on. I’ve always wanted a black box, a factory where you can create new work, and celebrate the performing arts. An empty space where designers can do what they want.”

West End choreographer Neil Fisher joins the visiting UK performers, courtesy of an international artist exchange between Lyttelton Arts Factory and its award winning sister, East Riding Theatre. As well as Mike Friend’s direction of A Christmas Carol, and Sparrow (by Joe Bennett), local performers have showcased original New Zealand work at ERT, with David Ladderman and Lizzie Tollemache touring their World Buskers Festival show, Mr and Mrs Alexander: Sideshows and Psychics there last year. Next year, Tom Trevella will play the lead role of Van Helsing in ERT’s production of Dracula.

Cara Hitchens aged 18, up and coming young actor from the UK has travelled to New Zealand for the first time especially for the project. She says: “This has been such a surreal experience working in a professional environment on the other side of the world. My friends back home are freezing their arses off and I’m learning my lines in the sunshine and having Christmas at the beach! I love it here.”

Oliver Twist, running December 13 to 30th is asking for more and raising funds for the Christchurch City Mission this Christmas. Tickets, donations and food can be gifted all season with details at www.laf.co.nz.

ENDS

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