THIS year's Beath High School end of term production was Lionel Bart's eternally popular musical Oliver, writes our theatre critic Kerry Black!

Everyone knows the famous 1968 movie, but this production paid a lot of respect to David Lean's black and white 1948 version.

With an impressive set designed by John Urquhart featuring an incredible bridge and a great central performance by Duncan Bain as the pathetic, forlorn Oliver, whose plaintive, soprano voice, touched the entire audience.

Beath always involves the entire community. While Mr & Mrs McKay of the drama department played a massive role as did Mrs Currie, Mrs Madden and their musical colleagues, even the technical pupils made the coffin for the undertakers scene!

Parents and ex pupils were also roped in, with Liam and Craig Black providing costumes, Fagin's impressive make up and hard labour for the scene shifting, while Bill Sykes was played menacingly by Kieran Snaddon (the wonderful Chasuble from The Importance of Being Earnest).

With Stage Management by Mrs Mitchell, there were even some cameo roles by the staff, including Mr More as the policeman who shot Sykes, Mr Thomson as Sykes' swarthy beer swilling companion and Mrs Philp as Nancy's pregnant pal -who had obviously had a bit too much “Oom Pah Pah!”

The great thing about Oliver! is the amount of parts involved. From the well drilled chorus of pick pocketing orphans, to lots of great characters such as the cocky chicken-chomping Noah Claypole (James Sullivan, who also played Mr Brownlow), Daisy Duncan as the cheeky hussy Charlotte, to Kerr Hadden’s imposing Mr Bumble and the brilliant Amy Paterson as Widow Corney, the school excelled itself. Special mention must go to the incredible Catriona McInally as the most emotional and defiant Nancy I have seen in years. Dodger was played with great roguishness by Jamie Ewart as the dishevelled ragamuffin who leads Fagin's (Elliot Makin) band of gin-supping thieves.

I was fortunate enough to see the show twice and it was amazing to see how they had grown into their parts by the Friday night! With Dylan Weatherupp and Jade Annal as Mr and Mrs Sowerberry, Calum Renton playing everything from a bullying workhouse assistant to the moustachioed Dr Grinwig; Brogan Patrick as the compassionate Mrs Bedwin and Leanne McArthur as Bet, there was something for everyone.

With fine choreography and lovely choral work, especially in the “Who Will Buy?” number, featuring Emily Juner, this fabulous show deserved the tears, cheers and standing ovation it received every night!