Chris Selman

his is a superb revival of Oliver! – it doesn’t shy away from the story’s darker moments, and a handful of scenes are genuinely moving, while key themes of class and social inequality land well. There’s a real nuance to these performances, showcasing a depth of character rarely seen in big, all-singing, all-dancing musicals. It all adds up to one of the most impressive pieces of theatre we’ve seen in a long, long time. An absolute triumph.

The show’s thoughtful consideration of issues within the queer community is one of its strengths. While for the most part this is a light-hearted comedy, occasionally it will land some serious points which can result in some genuinely poignant moments. We see Oliver’s wrestles and wrangles with gender identity – switching between ‘he’ and ‘they’ pronouns throughout the show – and we see Oliver unsure and often second-guessing how much of his/their authentic self to show for fear of rejection. Internalised homophobia, and the causes and consequences thereof, is also considered effectively in ‘Disco Ball’, which is an incredibly powerful moment. We feel the show’s themes are likely to resonate with many LGBTQ+ theatregoers.