Oliver! Program (2023)

From the Directors

Itseems everyone has an Oliver! story from the friend whose mum played Nancy, to a teacher who played Fagin. CGS also has a unique relationship to the musical, Barry Humphries having played Sowerberry in the original London production as well as a number of our own performances where current staff were seen on stage. The more fascinating story behind Oliver! is the man who created it, Lionel Bart and his true rags-to-riches-to-rags tale. A musical prodigy, Bart began his career writing pop songs in the 1950’s. His previous attempts at musicals were flops and it wasn’t until a producer heard Bart singing all the vocal parts on a demo tape that Oliver! was financed. Bart was notoriously fickle and the version that went up on opening night in 1960 had only been rehearsed by the cast nights before, due to the frequent rewrites handed in by the composer. Bart wrote the book, libretto, and the music, despite being unable to read or write music. Bart would hum the melodies to Eric Rogers, a composer, who would notate the melodies (there’s no record of who wrote the harmonies). Bart’s gift was writing a melody that you felt like you already knew; he said of his own writing style that he wouldn’t spend more time on anything that didn’t feel “spontaneous – like a sneeze”.

The overnight success of Oliver brought an excess that was to be Bart’s downfall. He squandered it on lavish houses, parties and gambling and it ended with him selling the rights to Oliver! to fund his other doomed productions. His friend, Barry Humphries, invited him to Australia to recover and to rework another of his musicals.

Oliver! is somewhat a case of art imitating Dickensian life. Bart, the seventh surviving child of twelve children, always felt abandoned and ignored by his parents, and like Oliver, was always just looking for love. He revised the musical in 1994 but his career never again achieved the success he had with Oliver!.

Our past productions of Oliver

In an age where orchestras are reduced to synthesisers, backing tracks and hidden away backstage, we are blessed to be performing with a 21-piece orchestra (complete with anvil, spoons, recorder, and accordion) of staff and students playing the orchestrations from the West End and Broadway productions.

Camberwell Grammar School has produced Oliver three times in the past – in 1976, 1981 and 1988. Andrew Tucker (1980) stared as Oliver in the ‘76 production with our previous Director of Music, Trevor Henley, as Musical Director and with the following teachers acting; Christopher Bence (as Mr Bumble), Margaret Leonard (Mrs Sowerberry), Bill Brooks (Sikes), still current English teacher John Allan (as Mr Brownlow) and with Tony Brown (28 years at CGS as director, producer and actor) playing Fagin. This production was re-staged in ’81 but with Richard Thurkle (1986) as Oliver, and Ron Wootton (as Sikes).

In 1988 a new production was presented with Oliver being played by Cameron Hepburn (1993, Captain of Music, School Vice-Captain, and Gallery of Achievement) and Michael Wilson (1992). Christopher Bence reprised his role as Mr Bumble, but Mr Sowerberry was played by Headmaster Colin Black (who went on to build the Performing Arts Centre). One time Deputy Head, Acting Headmaster and more recently the retired Head of History, Graham Morey-Nase, played the vicious Sikes (and was ironically double cast as the Knife-Grinder).

Thirty-four years later, we hope you enjoy the return of this widely adored show.

Andrew Stocker Alex St Vincent Welch Director Musical Director

1976 Program

Colin Black (Headmaster 19872004) as Mr Sowerberry in 1988

1981 Program

Graham Morey-Nase (former Head of History) as Bill Sikes in 1988

1988 Program

Christopher Bence (Middle School Teacher 1966-2002) as Mr Bumble

Act I

At the local workhouse, orphan boys enter the dining room for their dinner. They find solace in imagining a delicious menu ( Food Glorious Food) but are only fed gruel. When Oliver asks for more, he is immediately seized by the heartless caretakers of the workhouse (Oliver!). Alone in the parlour, Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney exchange flirtations ( I Shall Scream) and he eventually proposes to her. Mr. Bumble then takes Oliver and sells him as an apprentice to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry ( Boy for Sale). He and his wife taunt Oliver and Mr. Bumble ( That’s Your Funeral), causing Mr. Bumble to become angry and storm out. Oliver is sent to sleep with the coffins ( Where Is Love?).

The next morning, Noah Claypole (an employee of Mr Sowerberry) insults Oliver’s dead mother. Mrs. Sowerberry and her daughter Charlotte hurriedly run in as Oliver begins to beat Noah. As Mr. Bumble is sent for, Oliver is locked in a coffin but escapes during the commotion.

After a week on the run, Oliver ends up in the city of London and

Act II

In a local public house, Nancy strikes up an old tavern song (Oom‑Pah Pah) with the crowd. Bill Sikes reminds everyone of his reputation ( My Name) before Dodger runs in and tells Fagin about Oliver’s capture and removal to the Brownlow household. Fearful that the gang’s location will be revealed, Fagin and Bill decide to abduct Oliver and bring him back to the hideaway, with Nancy’s help. Nancy, who has come to care for Oliver, at first refuses to help, but Bill forces her to obey. In spite of this, Nancy still loves Bill, and believes he loves her too (As Long as He Needs Me).

The next morning at Mr. Brownlow’s house, Mrs. Bedwin the housekeeper sings to Oliver ( Where Is Love? [Reprise]). When he wakes up, Mr. Brownlow and Dr. Grimwig decide that Oliver is well enough to return some books to the library. Oliver sees a group of street vendors and celebrates the joyous change in his fortunes ( Who Will Buy?). As the vendors leave, Nancy and Bill capture Oliver. They bring him back to the hideaway, where Nancy saves Oliver from a beating from Bill. As Nancy and Bill disagree, Fagin tries to keep It’s A Fine Life [Reprise]). Left alone, Fagin wonders what his life might be like if he left London and began an honest Reviewing the Situation); however, after thinking of various excuses, he elects to remain a thief.

Back at the workhouse, Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney, now unhappily married, meet with Old Sally, who tells them that Oliver’s mother left a gold locket when she died in childbirth. Old Sally stole the locket, which she gives to the Widow Corney. Realizing that Oliver may have wealthy relatives (Oliver! [Reprise]), Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney visit Mr. Brownlow, who has advertised in newspapers in search of Oliver. Mr. Brownlow realises the pair are not interested in Oliver’s welfare, and throws them out. He recognizes the picture inside the locket as a picture of his daughter, and realizes that Oliver is actually his grandson.

Nancy visits Mr. Brownlow to explain how she and Bill abducted Oliver, and remorsefully vows to deliver Oliver to him safely that night at London Bridge. She ponders her life with Bill As Long as He Needs Me [Reprise]).

Suspecting that Nancy is up to something, Bill follows her as she sneaks Oliver out of Fagin’s lair. At London Bridge, he confronts them, knocks Oliver unconscious, and clubs Nancy to death.

As he escapes, Mr. Brownlow arrives and discovers Nancy’s body. A large crowd forms and pursues Bill Sikes, who appears at the top of a building, holding Oliver as hostage and threatening to kill him. As the crowd watches on, Bill Sikes is shot and Oliver is reunited with Mr. Brownlow. Fagin decides that the time has never looked better for him to straighten out his life Reviewing the Situation [Reprise]).

JONAS FOWLER Oliver (Thursday and Saturday)

ANDY LIM Oliver (Wednesday and Friday)

WILLIAM JENKIN The Artful Dodger

COOPER CARBONE Mr Brownlow/Ensemble

CONNOR INSTON Fagin

EMMANUELLE D’ADAMO Nancy

LARA MISTICA Mrs Corney/Ensemble

WILLIAM ALLSOP Bill Sikes

THOMAS NEWMAN Mr Bumble/Ensemble

LAUREN JOHNSON Mrs Sowerberry/Ensemble

THOMAS KLEBANOWSKI Knife Grinder/Ensemble

JADE BISHOP Charley Bates

ZAID IMRAN Dr Grimwig/Ensemble

EVIE VAMVAKARIS Charlotte/Strawberry Seller/ Ensemble

JERAIN YANG Rose Seller/Pub Dancer/Ensemble

NIKKI AIDONOPOULOS Bet/Ensemble

GRACE DINEEN Mrs Bedwin/Ensemble

WILLIAM NETHERCOTE Noah Claypole/Ensemble

KALYA MEHRA Milkmaid/Ensemble

TOMMY AUWARDT Mr Sowerberry/Ensemble

MATHILDA CHIPPERFIELD Old Sally/Pub Dancer/Ensemble

Camberwell Grammar School with Canterbury Girls Secondary College

ISAAC FIELD Pub Violinist/Ensemble

ANGUS EGAN Ensemble

SPENCER DREW Ensemble

RUBY DENNIS Ensemble

HAYLEY DAVIES Ensemble

LIAM CLARKE Ensemble

KYAN CHOO Ensemble

NED CHESLER Gruel Assistant/Ensemble

JASPER CHAO Dipper

ROGER CAO Imaginary Chef/Ensemble

FELIX BROWN Gruel Assistant/Ensemble

HARVEY BOURKE Captain

NATHAN BOSMANS Govenor/Ensemble

RASHI BHARDWAJ Ensemble

GINA BERRY Pub Dancer/Ensemble

HARVEY BECKETT Ensemble

LACHLAN BARNES Ensemble

MATTHEW LUNG Ensemble

NICHOLAS LIPSCOMBE Ensemble

HARRISON LIPSCOMBE Ensemble

MAXWELL KORGANOW Ensemble

HARRY KING Ensemble

ALEXANDER KELHER Ensemble

LILY JOLLY Ensemble

SOPHIE HUBERT Pub Dancer/Ensemble

BENJAMIN HOCKLEY Ensemble

LUCAS HO Ensemble

ALISTAIR HERBERT Nipper

GABRIEL GUORGI Imaginary Chef/Ensemble

MAX GRANT Chairman/Ensemble

ARAN GANESVARAN Ensemble

CONNOR LE PAGE Ensemble

TIM HOWARD Govenor/Ensemble

JONAH GUORGI Imaginary Chef/Ensemble

Camberwell Grammar School with Canterbury Girls Secondary College

ETHAN ZHANG Ensemble

ALEX ZHANG Bow Street Runner/Ensemble

ARCHIE WOOD Ensemble

CHARLIE WEICKHARDT Hussar/Ensemble

HARRY WATSON Govenor/Ensemble

JONATHAN WANG Ensemble

ESMOND TSOI Ensemble

RICO TOWERS Ensemble

SHAWRYA SINGH Ensemble

FINN SHULTZ Ensemble

FRASER ROWE Bow Street Runner/Ensemble

CHARLIE ROSE Ensemble

FRANK ROODENBURG Ensemble

JONTY NEIL Bow Street Runner/Ensemble

LACHLAN MILLARD Handwalker

JP MA Ensemble

DENNIS SHALIGA Imaginary Chef/Ensemble

JAMES LYSTER Ensemble

CGS Tech Crew

Show Caller

EDWARD PILL

Lead Stagehand RAPH CHAMPION

Follow Spot Caller NOAH CATTERALL

Sound & AV Operator/ Assistant Show Caller

Year 5/6 Ensemble

Row 4: Jeremy Shen, Daniel McKenzie, Gaius Pillemer, Rishan Ghosh, Pasan Saranasuriya, Bryon Yang, Liam Williams.

Row 3: William Zhao, Bennett Lu, Keaghan Ho, Zachary Lim, Brian Yan, James Cheng, Matthew Kozul.

Row 2: Samuel Pai, Eric Liu, Lucas Zabojec, Pavle‑Jay Ng, Samuel Legge.

Row 1: Jensen Liew, Alexander Collette, Jacob Tang, George Liu, Alexander Yakop, Noah Atkin.

Absent: Samuel Cai and Jai Nadarajah.

HAYDN HAMMERTON

Lighting Operators OLIVER PHILLIPS

Follow Spot Operators

DANIEL LUKINS

Prop coordinators NATHAN TONG

Camera Operators SEAN LUO

BRAYDEN CHEW

Stagehands

HAMISH STUART-ADAMS

LUCAS BROWN

REUBEN OPAT

MAX ALEXANDER

ETHAN MAK

EASON HE

ANSON LIM

Conductor ALEX ST VINCENT WELCH

Keyboard

Strings

GINO YAO

LISA GROSMAN

BELINDA ALEKNA

AMANDA FAIRS

SUYING AW

MATTIAS HO

NATHAN WAYNE

LACHLAN YOUNG

JOSHUA MORGAN

Clarinet JONATHAN HUNT

Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Flute BRENNAN HAMILTON-SMITH

Bassoon HAMBLE GEARY

Trumpet 1 BRUNO SIKETA

Trumpet 2 BEN RADELCZYK

French Horn 1 MELANIE SIMPSON

French Horn 2 OSCAR XU

Trombone 1 GRANT ARTHUR

Trombone 2 NICHOLAS RADELCZYK

Cello

SHINDUK KWOUN

ALEXANDER NEWMAN-THURLBY

Double Bass ESTHER TOH

JAMES KERFERD

Tuba/Bass Trombone AL HURST

Guitar JACK PANTAZIS

Accordion ERIC DICKSON

Percussion 1 SCOTT WEATHERSON

Flute/Piccolo

GREG LEE

Percussion 2 TIMOTHY YEOW

Production Team

Director ANDREW STOCKER

Musical Director ALEX ST VINCENT WELCH

Production Coordinator/ Guest Choreographer (Be Back Soon)

JESSICA JOHNSON

Costume Designer JENNIFER BENNIE

Set and Prop Designer MARK WAGER

Technical Coordinator STUART FELDT

Guest Choreographer (Food Glorious Food)

Guest Choreographer (Oom-Pah-Pah)

TRISTA FRY

JACK MIGDALEK

Costume Technician BREANNA HANDFIELD

Hair Stylist

KERRIN BARKER

MARTINA LINDSEY

NATHALIE PRINCE

Costume Assistants SABRINA TOWERS

STEPHEN BENNIE

AMY ZHANG

JAY BABBAR

Set Builder

Set and Prop Assistants

GERARD MCSHANE

MATT DAYE

ERICA MOFFAT

DAVID BENNIE

MATTHEW WANFORD

Poster Design SIMON BARRY

Photographer KEN NAKANISHI

Technical Equipment and Operation

Vocal Coaches

Rehearsal Pianists

STARLITE PRODUCTIONS

CURTIS BAYLISS

BELINDA REID

LEIGH HARROLD

CHRIS NANKERVIS

PETER DUMSDAY

CURTIS BAYLISS