Oliver! Backdrops For Rent

About Oliver!

Oliver! is a British musical, with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It was the first musical adaptation of a Charles Dickens work to become a stage hit, which was one of the reasons it attracted attention. The plot of Dickens’ original novel is considerably simplified for the musical.

It premiered in the West End on June 30, 1960, enjoying a long run of 2618 performances. A successful Broadway production opened on January 6, 1963, at the Imperial Theatre for 774 performances. It has had further tours and revivals. It was made into a musical film in 1968, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture. The show launched the careers of several child actors, including Davy Jones, later of The Monkees; Phil Collins, later of Genesis; and Alan Paul, later of The Manhattan Transfer, among others.

The story follows Oliver Twist, a young orphan who escapes a brutal workhouse and falls in with a gang of pickpockets in the streets of Victorian London. Oliver! Is known for its enduring score, which includes “Consider Yourself,” “Food, Glorious Food,” and “As Long as He Needs Me.”