The actors served up some commanding performances, and I was impressed with the male cast in particular.
Year 10 student Callum Riach took the title role of pre-teen hero Oliver Twist, and took on his part with beautiful expression and a sparkle in his eye.
His solo singing numbers were also solid.
His voice wavered slightly to start with, but grew stronger as the show progressed and managed to hit some wicked high notes.
Other strong performances came from Joseph Greenlees, who brought plenty of swagger to the Artful Dodger; Isaiah Davies, who was spectacularly creepy as macabre funeral director Mr Sowerberry; and Ryan Sheehan as Bill Sykes, who was practically bone-chilling as the villain of the piece.
Year 13 St Matthew's student Zoe Hancox-Monk took on the female lead, playing the spunky but tortured Nancy with raw emotion, and a mighty Broadway belt.
Other favourites were Sarah-Marie Davies and Mitchell Anderson as Widow Corney and Mr Bumble, who had a great stage chemistry and brought a bawdiness reminiscent of Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen in Les Mis to the characters.
The undisputed star of the show, however, was Angus Gaffney as Fagin, the ageing pickpocket.
With a panache and flourish similar to Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, but with suitable charm, he had the audience eating out of his hand.
And, of course, you can't have a good musical without a strong chorus, with some the best numbers coming from the orphans, Fagin's gang and the pub patrons
One of my only pieces of advice for the actors would be to slow down, as some of the lines were slightly garbled
Overall, a stellar effort from Rathkeale and St Matthew's, directors Joanne Simpson and Matt Hudson, and musical director Adam Gordon.
