Outstanding singing and superb character acting made Monmouth School Boys’ Prep’s two-night musical production of Oliver! a spectacular success.

The boys’ performances at the Blake Theatre were staggering and the character portrayals for those in lead roles were remarkable.

The musical, based upon the novel, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, was a very popular choice for the whole-school production.

Led by Mr David Murray (Director) and Mr Joe Walton (Musical Director), the perfect combination of drama and music produced a sensational result.

Freddy Potts was inspired as a Fagin of real depth and strong musical characterisation.

Oliver Charles caught the naïve innocence and strength of Oliver through his beautiful singing and strong acting.

Dylan Morton perfected his cockney accent in his performance of Consider Yourself.

A special mention should go to the street sellers - Ben Gibby, Harry Beggs, Milo Morland, James Wardle, Freddie Melzer and Dylan Pritchard - who tackled the demanding Who Will Buy with confidence and skill.

Musical Director, Mr Walton, said: “The most pleasing aspect of the production was to see how much the whole school enjoyed participating as the chorus.

“It was lovely to see how so many boys grew in confidence through the opportunity to perform a major musical on a professional stage with a wonderful band and cast.”

Headteacher, Mr Neil Shaw, said: “I felt, and many others have commented, that the calibre of our boys’ performances were truly astonishing for boys aged just 7 to 11.

“While it is not just about the final performance, it is about the process, the journey that each boy takes whilst preparing for the show."

Mr Shaw added: “Never is the importance of team work more evident than grappling to pull off a major whole-school performance and the entire staff team did just that, pulling together even in the face of major challenges.

“I must thank the amazing team at the boys prep who work so hard for the benefit of the boys.”

Ian Morgan