WHEN The Dukes decided to stage an outdoor show with a twist who better to turn to than a writer for television’s longest running soap?

This summer, Debbie Oates has taken on the challenge of adapting Charles Dickens classic story of Oliver Twist for the acclaimed Lancaster theatre.

And her version will be performed in the city’s picturesque Williamson Park from Friday, July 3-August 15 (7.15pm).

Although Debbie is best known for Coronation Street and writing memorable episodes including Becky Macdonald’s exit, the first Hindu wedding, and Mike Baldwin’s funeral, since 2012 she has also developed a strong link to The Dukes.

She first met the theatre’s artistic director, Kendal-born Joe Sumsion, at Bristol University and is now an associate artist at The Dukes having successfully adapted Treasure Island and A Christmas Carol for the theatre in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Although she’s Manchester-based, Debbie’s other Lancaster link is through her late mother, Gloria Oates, who was a former High Sheriff of Lancashire and whose shield hangs in Lancaster Castle's Shire Hall.

Debbie was an actor and trapeze artist before her writing talent was recognised. Since, she has penned episodes of Fat Friends, Robin Hood, Primeval, Crusoe and Drop Dead Gorgeous for television as well as original radio and theatre plays.

Her connection with Coronation Street began 13 years ago, after honing her soap writing skills on Brookside.

“Corrie is a lovely job,” explained Debbie. “Often writing is lonely so it gives me chance to work collaboratively. The writers meet up every three weeks to devise storylines, it’s really creative and exciting. I can’t imagine working on any other soap. It’s amazing to hear Rita open her mouth and say something I’ve written.”

As well as being heavily involved with The Dukes this summer, Debbie’s mind has also been on writing the script for a live episode of Coronation Street due for broadcast in September.

Debbie thinks that, were he alive today, Charles Dickens may well have worked on the soaps himself.

“Dickens wrote Oliver Twist as episodes over three years so it’s very much like writing a soap when you set off on a story and you don’t know where it’s going to go,” continued Debbie.

Adapting Oliver Twist for an outdoor setting where the audience follow the cast as they move from one location to another throughout the park has been fresh ground for Debbie to tread.

“It’s quite a challenge to take a genuinely urban story and set it in a park but hopefully the change of environment will mean the audience won’t be expecting what they might remember from the film,” she added.

And the gang culture which features in Oliver Twist fascinated her: “I was interested in the sense of belonging that Fagin’s gang give to Oliver who feels abandoned and the question of nature versus nurture and whether badness is born or made.”

Fagin’s gang will be led by the man himself, played by Rochdale’s Russell Richardson, and Chorley actress Josie Cerise, will be in the guise of Dodger, performing alongside talented members of The Dukes Young Company.

They will be joined by Dickens' other wonderful characters - Nancy, Bill Sikes and the hideous Mr Bumble – who will lead the audience on a journey through the magical open-air setting of Williamson Park which will be transformed into Dickensian England with a northern twist.

Along the way, they will see orphan Oliver thrown out of the workhouse and dragged into the park to be sold to the highest bidder but hidden deep in the woods, Fagin and his gang of tricksters and scoundrels lie in wait, living a life of adventure.

This rare theatrical experience follows in The Dukes tradition of providing memorable and critically acclaimed productions for all the family which have gained a national reputation as the UK’s biggest outdoor walkabout theatre season.

The Dukes' Williamson Park productions began in 1987. Last year, reaching the momentous milestone of attracting 500,000 people so far to the walkabout shows.

Oliver Twist will be the sixth park show Joe Sumsion has directed for The Dukes.

The son of John Sumsion, a director of K Shoes in Kendal, Joe is a former pupil of Stramongate Primary and Kirkbie Kendal schools, who first became interested in the arts when he joined the youth theatre at the Brewery Arts Centre.

Talking about his latest directorial challenge, Joe said that there were some stories which simply offered a delicious prospect for an outdoor walkabout production - and Oliver Twist was one of them.

He added: "The thought of relocating Dickens’ story to a northern park is intriguing. I can’t wait to see the Artful Dodger, Nancy and Fagin at large in the woods while high above them Oliver and Mr Brownlow look out from the Ashton Memorial over Morecambe Bay.

"I doubt there will ever have been a version of Oliver Twist quite like this one and there’s a palpable air of excitement and anticipation about this show.”

To book tickets for Oliver Twist - recommended for anyone aged 5 plus - telephone The Dukes box office on 01524-598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org.