NEW twist on DICKENS’ classic...
Watch out for pickpockets! Marion Mcmullen discovers how christopher eccleston is turning to crime for new drama dodger
THE old showbusiness adage says never work with children or animals, but Christopher Eccleston found himself heading a whole gang of young pickpockets while playing Fagin in new drama Dodger.
CBBC’S Victorian adventure looks at the famous Charles Dickens story from the perspective of Oliver Twist’s famous friend with 14-year-old Billy Jenkins playing the title character.
The series, written by Rhys Thomas and Lucy Montgomery, follows the young gang as they are down on their luck, ducking and diving their way through the tough streets of London.
They are trying to keep one step ahead of the police as they embark on Dodger’s latest madcap schemes
The only adult authority figure in their lives is Fagin and Christopher says he was attracted to the role because he had worked with creators Rhys and Lucy before on a couple of other smaller productions.
“I think they’re brilliant writers, brilliant people, he says. “I love the fact that they bring, what I describe as a contemporary energy, which we don’t traditionally see in more period pieces.
“They come from a world of comedy and
I think that is what will appeal to audi- ences as it is a slightly irreverent approach to the genre.
“As a child, as much as I adored the films, I wasn’t that interested in Oliver Twist. Because of my council estate background, I always wanted to know what happened to Fagin and the kids and how they survived.
“Rhys and Lucy have taken those characters and created a whole new set of back stories.
“Through Fagin and the gang, they look at the reality of what it was like to be the underclass in Dickensian London.”
Christopher, who turns 58 this month, also enjoyed tackling a classic figure like Fagin.
The role has been played by many acting stars over the years from Sir Alec Guinness in the 1948 British film directed by Sir David Lean to Robert Lindsay in ITV’S 1999 drama written by Alan Bleasdale and Ron Moody’s memorable performance in the 1968 film musical Oliver!.
The new 10-part series sees Fagin running the gang of child pickpockets from a secret hideout above a dodgy pub near the East London docks. He wants them to beat the odds and lives by a strict code, but often points out to his young charges that if he was not putting a leaky roof over their heads they would be on the streets, most likely starving or worse.
Christopher says: “Fagin is an icon of world literature so people and actors are continually revisiting the character. This role is a reinvention, in a sense, of that iconic character.”
He explains: “Our Fagin is serious but also comedic.
“There’s a balance between drama and comedy. He’s tragic, which we hint at, which is why he invests emotionally. He parents the kids. But acts with tough love – he’s cruel but fair. The question is, does he love these children or is he exploiting them?”
Christopher became a hit with young viewers playing Doctor Who when the famous Time Lord returned to TV in 2005 and his extensive acting credits range from acclaimed TV drama Our Friends In The North and 2013 movie Thor: The Dark World to playing Macbeth with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
So how did he find working with young actor Billy and the other young cast members?
“Rhys put a lot of energy into directing the children – he had a ‘let’s have fun’ approach,” says Christopher.
“Lucy was the same and that’s why the children are so amazing.
“The young actors put a lot of love and passion into it. Billy is exceptional and a very gifted actor.”
Billy played the young Prince Charles in The Crown.
He wants viewers to see the early days of the Artful Dodger and says of Dodger and Fagin’s relationship “there’s a little spark there, they just hit it off and Fagin really likes Dodger.
“It’s kind of like a son and father relationship. There’s laughter but there’s some sad, heart-warming moments too.
“It was great working with Christopher!”
The series also stars David Threlfall as Chief of Police, Sir Charles Rowan while Rhys and Lucy also appear as PC Duff and Fagin’s landlady respectively.
Lucy says: “We weren’t really interested in Oliver Twist as a character – let’s be honest, no one really likes a goody two shoes.
“We’ve kept the fun ones and really developed the more known characters, adding a fresh perspective and life to the series.
“The odds are stacked against the gang, so if they don’t knit together and if they don’t live by their wits, that’ll be it for them.
“The kids really drive the plots too. We see them being cleverer than the adults and the kids always come through… ready for the next challenge ahead.”
Rhys agrees: “I have always loved Oliver Twist but wasn’t so keen on Oliver himself. I preferred the company of Dodger, Fagin and the gang.
“I thought it would be fun to create a family show with Dodger at its heart and see how he came to be a master criminal in Victorian London.”
Christopher sums up the appeal of the new series saying: “It’s about a family. Fagin has created a family, so it’s about sibling and family dynamics. I want the audience to take pleasure from it. I want them to invest in the characters, invest in the relationships within the gang.
“I want them to laugh, I want them to cry and I want them to stay with us. They will also hopefully see themselves in Dodger.”
Our Fagin is serious but also comedic. There’s a balance between drama and comedy
Christopher Eccleston on his character in Dodger