Dickens goes down a storm

But the skies miraculously cleared and the stage crew did a fantastic job of mopping up the standing water in the Ball Court ‘auditorium’ (including towelling down all the seats, thank you) and the play, Oliver Twist, went ahead without further mishap.

Once again one can only marvel at what is achieved in under three weeks by a small team of theatrical professionals, led by director Amy Leach and a widely mixed ability cast of 60 young people aged between 12 and 21.

Some are regular members of the Theatre Royal’s Young People’s Theatre. Many have never been on a stage before.

Every one of them delivered 100 per cent of whatever talent he or she possessed.

Neil Bartlett’s adaptation is very true to Charles Dickens’ original tale. For the purposes of this show the setting has been switched to Bath instead of London.

It is raw and realistic, beautifully choreographed and nowhere near as sentimental as its West End musical counterpart.

The stage discipline was impeccable, the costumes and set inventively improvised.

Among the stand-out performances Grace Humphries particularly impressed as Nancy. She has confidence, poise and maturity.

Tristan Head, as her partner, the evil Bill Sykes, was chillingly convincing.

In the title role 13-year-old Harry Miller, made an excellent Storm debut.

The pivotal role of Fagin was well interpreted by Josiah East and his junior side-kick the Artful Dodger was played with a certain pleasing swagger by Ludo Jean Francis.

Joe Jukes and Danielle Whylie, provided comic relief in a well rehearsed double act as the stuck-up Grimwigs.

Tom Mills is the man behind the sensitive musical additions.

The show runs at Prior Park until Sunday. Rain has stopped play completely on only three occasions in 12 years. So take your sweaters, waterproofs, cushion and perhaps a parasol – it’s worth the risk.