Oliver Twisted walkabout

From Oliver Twisted by JD Sharpe

Last week we headed over to Clerkenwell, London for the Oliver Twisted launch event which comprised a tour of the area and supper in a nearby inn. Having expected a bog standard Dickens tour it turned into something much more fun and elaborate as the author herself led us down the back streets of Clerkenwell in search of the characters in the book with readings and ingenious puzzles and riddles to be solved along the way – all in the spirit of the book – a clever twist on the classic story where Oliver Twist meets Zombies!

The first stop was outside the Harlequin pub near Angel station where we met the author Jasmine Richards (aka JD Sharpe) and Oliver Twisted, the main character in her book (played by her husband). We then weaved down Rosebery Avenue to the next stop near Sadler’s Wells Theatre where we met Charles Dickens himself who told us about the origninal book Oliver Twist and how it had inspired many adaptations. He left us with some labels with words on to puzzle over.

Author Jasmine Richards reading from Oliver Twisted

Jasmine read from the infamous ‘please Sir can I have some more Sir’ scene before we headed off down Exmouth Market – aka ‘the night market’ - where we met Nancy who bought us hot drinks outside the Jellied Eels shop and gave us some mysterious numbers to ponder over. Jasmine treated us to another reading, from the scene when Oliver Twisted turns bad, and explained how she had decided to keep parts from the original book – she was keen to leave in the historical detail that Dickens described so well.

We next meandered down to Clerkenwell Green and stopped outside Old Sessions House that used to be the poor house. Here we had to solve a riddle and in return we were given a copy of Oliver Twisted and learned the meaning behind Jasmine Richard’s pseudonym for the book – JD Sharpe. The initial J for 'Jasmine', D for 'David' (her husband) and the surname Sharpe to give power to the name.

Oliver Twisted guests outside Old Sessions House

We then went down Saffron Hill to the last stop outside The One Tun where Dickens used to frequent ande we met Fagin who gave us a key in return for solving his riddle. Then everyone climbed into their ‘Hackney carridges’ to take them to supper and an evening of fun and games.

Upon arrival at the pub, we were encouraged to solve the riddles we been given from the words and numbers that spelled out:  'Beneath the table you will see a box its locked but yours is the key'  - and in the box was the menu for supper!

John McLay and Wendy Cooling open the box

Author Jasmine Richards with guests at the launch and members of the Egmont team

All in all an ingenious and enjoyable event.