Oliver Twist

Playscript for a serio-comic burletta adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist adapted by George Almar in three acts. The wood engraving on the title page depicts the death of Bill Sikes. Part of the Dicks' Standard play series (number 293) such scripts were sold cheaply for one penny and were used for amateur and professional performances. Stage adaptations of Charles Dickens works appeared very quickly after the first few chapters of the part works were published. Theatres employed resident dramatists to adapt the part works for the stage and even predicted how the novel may end before publication, often with surprising results. Within months of the completion of Oliver Twist in 1838, three different dramatic productions of the book were being performed in London’s theatres. This version was first performed at the Royal Surrey Theatre in London on 19 November 1838.