FOR three nights last week, packed audiences at North Tawton Town Hall were invited to stop grumbling about the weather and spend a few hours in the rather more inclement underbelly of Victorian London, as portrayed by the Young Actors of North Tawton Society in their production of Lionel Bart's musical 'Oliver'.

With the help of some colourful costumes, atmospheric backdrops and good casting choices, director Wendy Hill and assistant director Tracy Norman brought all the well-loved characters vividly to life.

Rowan Perrior brought a nuanced and charismatic Fagin to the stage, teasing out all the moral complexities of Dickens' ambiguous character. Sophie McKenna-Smith, as the warm-hearted Nancy who can't help loving 'bad boy' Bill Sykes, sang 'He Needs Me' with such mesmerising intensity you could have heard a hatpin drop. Alfie Budd was an engaging and soulful Oliver and Luke Western was suitably chipper and streetwise as his 'hintimate acquaintance', the Artful Dodger.

Although they only gave Oliver a small helping of gruel, Hamish Inglis and Sophie Bending, as workhouse managers Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, gave the audience a very generous helping of comic pomposity, while laughs were also provided by Jade Mansfield as a farcically shrill Mrs Sowerberry — suitably upstaged, at one point, by her equally-farcical bloomers.

Edward Thompson produced a charmingly measured Mr Brownlow while Ash Harnett stomped menacingly across the stage as Bill Sykes, sporting chin stubble the size of volcanic craters and real-life dog 'Monty' who even (at times) barked on cue.

Also entertaining were Josh Lee as Dr Grimwig, Shannon Hill as Charlotte, Jemima Western as Nancy's friend Bet, Rosie O' Connell as Mrs Bedwin and Jasmin Quick as Old Sally.

The main characters were well-supported by Hayden Perrior, Caitlin Nightingale, Ben Phillips, Danielle Crowther, Sasha and Shantelle Alford, Marnie Ponsford, Emily Murray, Wendy Down and Sammy Jo Luxton.

As usual, the show could not have taken place without the many people who helped at rehearsals and backstage, with Wendy being supported by Janet Lanchberry as musical director, PJ Gray as stage designer, Debbie Reed as costume designer, Sarah Cacchio as choreographer, Tash Lee as production assistant and the Orbell family as sound engineers. Many others helped with anything from lighting, set-building, organising props, applying make-up and making tea to chaperoning children around the building between scenes and helping them with microphones and beards that had fallen off two seconds before they were due to go on stage!

For many in the audience, the production was particularly poignant because the director, Wendy Hill, is stepping down from her role as director after thirteen years.

People will not only remember the shows, which have enriched the lives of a whole generation of North Tawton youth, but also the warmth generated by Wendy's sense of humour and her inclusive approach.

She said: 'In the past people have questioned why we aren't selective in our choice of members, ie choosing only those who have an obvious theatrical talent.

'My answer is that every child has a talent and is worthy of being in the group.'

This kind of egalitarian ethos — cleverly packaged inside a whole lot of fun — is a great example to our children and will be much missed.

Emma Wilby