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Mar 2022

Last Updated: 25/03/2022

Ripon actors to stage Oliver! after a twist in their tale

by Tim Flanagan

| 25 Mar, 2022

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society's production was delayed by covid and thrown into doubt when it could not contact the company it had paid a £500 deposit to secure the rights for the show. But finally — the show will go on!

ripon-22nd-march-2022-the-children-of-the-oliver-cast

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society is finally set to stage Oliver! after a two-year wait and behind the scenes dramas.

The award-winning musical will be staged at Harrogate Theatre from April 20 to 23.

The production was delayed by covid and thrown into some doubt, when RAOS could not contact Crewe-based rights holder MusicScope, to whom a £500 deposit had been paid to secure the rights for the show.

RAOS committee member Hannah Ruddy told the Stray Ferret:

"Over more than a year, we attempted to contact them via the telephone number and email address that is on their website. I made dozens of phone calls and sent at least 15 emails, but there has been no response.

"We even sought legal advice, because without the rights we were facing the prospect of having to call off the show, as well as being out of pocket."

The Stray Ferret has also attempted to contact MusicScope via the telephone number and email address on their website and, at the time of publication, had not received a response.

In the difficult position it was facing, RAOS contacted MTI, which owns the rights to a newer version of Oliver! and following an initial refusal, the application for the rights to perform the musical was finally approved after weeks of negotiations.

Ms Ruddy said:

“MTI were clearly sympathetic to our situation. We even sent them a picture of the cast and highlighted the fact that these kids had already had so much taken away from them over the pandemic.

"We just wanted them to have something to look forward to and know all the hard work they’d put in hadn’t been for nothing.”

Two-year wait

RAOS, which holds its rehearsals at Ripon Arts Hub, was originally due to stage its production of Oliver! at Harrogate Theatre in April 2020.

Following the first covid lockdown, the show was rescheduled for September 2021. However, Harrogate Borough Council's need to carry out urgent roof repairs at the Victorian building meant that the show could not go on last year.

Ms Ruddy said:

"Now, we've got fingers crossed that we are third time lucky and there are no last-minute dramas. Advance ticket sales are good and we hope that our supporters in Ripon, Harrogate and across the district, will come to enjoy the show."

For ticket bookings and further information click on https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Oliver

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Ripon actors to stage Oliver! after a twist in their tale

Two-year wait

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