Oliver Twist

ENGLISH

Speaking and Listening
KS1
The performance gives students the opportunity to listen to the story, respond appropriately and offer feedback in class on aspects of the story of interest to them. They can also identify and respond to sound patterns in language, such as rhyme and word play used by the characters in the songs. .

KS2
The performance gives students the chance to speak clearly on stage in response to certain parts of the production; for example, when students are picked to come up onto the stage. Students can also evaluate the overall effectiveness of the performance, including language variation and dialect forms of the many characters in the play.

Literature
The production gives both KS1 and 2 students the opportunity to explore the works of Charles Dickens and demonstrates how a story from a book can be adapted for the stage.

DRAMA
This show allows students to discuss the versatility of the actors as they portray a variety of characters, through changes in voice and body language. KS2 students can see how light, sound, costumes and set contribute to the overall performance..

PSHE & CITIZENSHIP
For both key stages 1 and 2 the production raises issues such as bullying, human emotion, friendship, kindness, love, right from wrong and teamwork.

HISTORY
The production enables children of all ages to research and explore classic literature while also offering an insight into what life was like during the Victorian period. It also provides an opportunity for pupils to compare Victorian literature with modern day children’s literature.

KS1
Explore the story of the Oliver further, with the teacher telling the story and the children acting it out as it is told.

Ask the children to walk around the room as different characters from the performance. When you say ‘freeze’ they stand still like statues. If they move then they are out of the game. Continue until there is a winner.

KS2
Students could investigate other stories from the past and present them to the rest of the class as a book review.

KS1 & KS2
Make a poster advertising this performance of Oliver. Tell the children to draw their favourite scene from the show.

Sing the songs from the performance as a group.

KS2
Ask children to form a circle and encourage them to pretend to be different characters from the play. Get them to sit in the middle of the circle in turn while the other students ask questions about their character. The other children have to guess who they are.

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