Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20200119 | Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist is a powerful indictment of child poverty and exploitation, as relevant now as when it was written. A young orphan's epic search for family and home lies at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's radical updating of Dickens' story to modern-day Nigeria and the refugee journey to Britain.
Directed by acclaimed theatre director Michael Buffong, this classic story is reimagined as a powerful and moving drama for today.
Episode 1:
They have to find work to survive at a mining camp run by ruthless Tinube. Ambitious documentary-maker Jann persuades Oli to take him down the mine to film, but Tinube is furious and locks Oli away. When Oli is released, he discovers Mene has been sold and taken away, and he is left truly alone.
Oli's journey to find his best friend leads him to Lagos where a chance meeting with streetwise Dodger and his gang sparks a series of events that none of them can outrun.
CAST:
Adapted by Ayeesha Menon
Music by Tunde Jegede
A CONNECTfilm production for BBC Radio 4
A radical updating of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist. A radical reimagining of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist | |
| 01 | 20200119 | 20221126 (R4) | Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist is a powerful indictment of child poverty and exploitation, as relevant now as when it was written. A young orphan's epic search for family and home lies at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's radical updating of Dickens' story to modern-day Nigeria and the refugee journey to Britain.
Directed by acclaimed theatre director Michael Buffong, this classic story is reimagined as a powerful and moving drama for today.
Episode 1:
They have to find work to survive at a mining camp run by ruthless Tinube. Ambitious documentary-maker Jann persuades Oli to take him down the mine to film, but Tinube is furious and locks Oli away. When Oli is released, he discovers Mene has been sold and taken away, and he is left truly alone.
Oli's journey to find his best friend leads him to Lagos where a chance meeting with streetwise Dodger and his gang sparks a series of events that none of them can outrun.
CAST:
Adapted by Ayeesha Menon
Music by Tunde Jegede
A CONNECTfilm production for BBC Radio 4
A radical updating of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist. A radical reimagining of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist |
| 02 | 20200126 | Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist is a powerful indictment of child poverty and exploitation, as relevant now as when it was written. A young orphan's epic search for family and home lies at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's radical updating of Dickens' story to modern-day Nigeria and the refugee journey to Britain.
Directed by acclaimed theatre director Michael Buffong, this classic story is reimagined as a powerful and moving drama for today.
Episode 2:
Cast:
Adapted by Ayeesha Menon
Music by Tunde Jegede
A CONNECTfilm production for BBC Radio 4
A radical updating of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist. A radical reimagining of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist | |
| 02 | 20200126 | 20221203 (R4) | Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist is a powerful indictment of child poverty and exploitation, as relevant now as when it was written. A young orphan's epic search for family and home lies at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's radical updating of Dickens' story to modern-day Nigeria and the refugee journey to Britain. Directed by acclaimed theatre director Michael Buffong, this classic story is reimagined as a powerful and moving drama for today. Episode 2: In Lagos, Oli is now fifteen and a key member of an exuberant gang of Area Boys who sell drugs for notorious underworld figure Miss Saffron Hill. High-octane capers through the backstreets of Lagos, a world of new tricks and double-edged jokes - but Oli never stops looking for his best friend Mene. Cast: Oli - Idris Debrand Babatunde - Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Nancy - Tamara Lawrance Bill - Fehinte Balogun Dodger - Sylvester Akinrolabu Miss Saffron Hill - Jocelyn Jee Esien Grimwig - Charles Venn Inspector Ndbuisi - Kalungi Ssebandeke Charlie - Samuel Adebayo Auntie Bello - Jumoke Fashola Blessing - Marlene Madenge Zaki - Ali Zayn Hotel guest - Ayeesha Menon Hotel Receptionist - Samantha Mandaza Adapted by Ayeesha Menon Produced by Gill Parry Directed by Michael Buffong Music by Tunde Jegede Sound design by David Thomas and Steve Bond Photography By The Masons Development concept written by Silas Parry Cultural Advisor: Onassis Andem Sound Interns: Makee Ogbon and Kairon Edwards Production Interns: Samantha Mandaza and Jayesh Fernando Production Manager: Sarah Tombling Executive Producer: John Scott Dryden A CONNECTfilm production for BBC Radio 4 A radical updating of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist. A radical reimagining of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist |
| 03 | 20200202 | Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist is a powerful indictment of child poverty and exploitation, as relevant now as when it was written. A young orphan's epic search for family and home lies at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's radical updating of Dickens' story to modern-day Nigeria and the refugee journey to Britain.
Directed by acclaimed theatre director Michael Buffong, this classic story is reimagined as a powerful and moving drama for today.
Episode 3:
Is this the end of Oli's last desperate hope of escape and the possibility of a new life?
Cast:
Adapted by Ayeesha Menon
Music by Tunde Jegede
A CONNECTfilm production for BBC Radio 4
A radical updating of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist. A radical reimagining of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist | |
| 03 | 20200202 | 20221210 (R4) | Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist is a powerful indictment of child poverty and exploitation, as relevant now as when it was written. A young orphan's epic search for family and home lies at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's radical updating of Dickens' story to modern-day Nigeria and the refugee journey to Britain. Directed by acclaimed theatre director Michael Buffong, this classic story is reimagined as a powerful and moving drama for today. Episode 3: Oli has become a hardened 20-year-old, who's forgotten his best friend Mene and all their dreams. Saffron Hill is grooming Oli as the gang's new leader, and persuades Bill to include him in a plan that will earn them a small fortune. But when they get to the rendezvous, Oli's kind heart ruins the callous scheme and he pays a heavy price... Is this the end of Oli's last desperate hope of escape and the possibility of a new life? Cast: Oli - Idris Debrand Babatunde - Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Nancy - Tamara Lawrance Bill - Fehinte Balogun Dodger - Sylvester Akinrolabu Miss Saffron Hill - Jocelyn Jee Esien Blessing - Marlene Madenge Inspector Ndbuisi - Kalungi Ssebandeke Charlie - Samuel Adebayo Auntie Rosie - Bisola Elizabeth Alabi Waitress - Fatima Adoum Young Agi - Sariah Joye Other parts played by Ali Zayn, Fabio Goutet, Ewens Abid, Makee Ogbon, Samantha Mandaza, Jayesh Fernando and Kairon Edwards Adapted by Ayeesha Menon Produced by Gill Parry Directed by Michael Buffong Music by Tunde Jegede Sound design by David Thomas and Steve Bond Photography by The Masons Development concept written by Silas Parry Cultural Advisor: Onassis Andem Sound Interns: Makee Ogbon and Kairon Edwards Production Interns: Samantha Mandaza and Jayesh Fernando Production Manager: Sarah Tombling Executive Producer: John Scott Dryden A CONNECTfilm production for BBC Radio 4 A radical updating of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist. A radical reimagining of Charles Dickens' most political novel, Oliver Twist |