Musical · West End
Oliver!
Lionel Bart's musical, freely adapted from Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist. An orphan boy who dares to ask for more escapes the workhouse and finds himself in the criminal underworld of Victorian London, where he falls in with Fagin and his gang of young pickpockets.
This new production, revised by Cameron Mackintosh, is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with Jean-Pierre van der Spuy as co-director. It began at Chichester Festival Theatre before transferring to the Gielgud. The company includes Simon Lipkin as Fagin, Ava Brennan as Nancy and Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes, with Matt Lucas playing Fagin for a limited period from September.
Buying advice
How to book
Booking is open to March 2027, and it sells steadily rather than out, so you can usually pick a date and a seat without racing. Top-price seats rise from £200 to £225 as the date nears, so book ahead if you want the best seats; the cheaper bands move less. Peak and off-peak prices are close, so choose the date that suits you rather than the one that saves a few pounds. Oom-Pah-Pah performances: Stalls £50, Dress Circle £40, Grand Circle £30.
Ways to pay less
For the best value, look to the Oom-Pah-Pah performances on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 3 to 19 November 2026, where most seats are £50 in the Stalls, £40 in the Dress Circle, or £30 in the Grand Circle. Midweek, you can also chance the day: TKTS has it nearly every day at around 52% off, so there is little point booking weeks ahead unless you want a particular seat; up to 26% off through an agency is the sure alternative. If you're happy to gamble, the weekly lottery at £30 is another way in, though a seat is not guaranteed. Peak and off-peak prices are close, so choose the date that suits you. Groups of 10 or more get the biggest reduction, from £39.50 a head, and family tickets start at £125 for four.
Deals9
Best deals across LondonEvery current deal we track for Oliver!, checked daily. Last checked 23 October.
Up to 55% off on the Fri 23 Oct evening performance and Sat 24 Oct through TKTS, in the Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle.
A limited number of tickets are available each week for £30. Entries are open until 10am on Thursday. Successful applicants will be notified from 1pm and will have 24 hours to purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Up to 4 tickets per entry.
- Early Bird3 Nov – 19 Nov
Best deal
Oom-Pah-Pah performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 3 to 19 November 2026, with most seats in each area at one price: £50 in the Stalls, £40 in the Dress Circle and £30 in the Grand Circle. Matinees are not included. Limited availability: once they're gone, they're gone. The earlier you book, the better your seat: the best seats in each price band go first.
- Young
Students get £23 tickets on select performances through London Theatre Direct
- Family
Get 4 tickets in the Stalls or Dress Circle for £200, or 4 tickets in the Grand Circle for £125. Valid Tue-Fri eve performances. Group of 4 must include at least one person 16 or younger. Tickets are limited, exclusions apply.
- GroupUntil 27 Nov
Book by 27 Nov 2026 for tickets up to £99.50 in Stalls/Dress Circle reduced to £55, or tickets up to £65 in Grand Circle reduced to £39.50 for Tue-Fri eve performances from 3 Nov 2026 - 11 Mar 2027. Also, Bands A & B reduced to £65 for Tue-Fri eves and midweek matinees. Exclusions apply.
School groups of 10+ pay £32.50 for Grand Circle seats on Tuesday to Thursday evenings and midweek matinees, with one free teacher place per 10 students. Book and pay by 27 November 2026 and the price drops to £29.50 on Tuesday to Thursday evenings between 3 November 2026 and 11 March 2027. Rates subject to change and availability.
- Agency discount
Save up to 26% on tickets from TodayTix. Click the link below to see details of the saving.
- Agency discount
Save up to 29% on selected tickets from London Box Office. Click the link below to see details of the saving.
Pricing
+0% peak surcharge (mid-range seats)Peak
Weekends & holidays| Area | Top | Bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | £200 | £165 |
| Mid-range | £135 | £69.50 |
| Budget | £50 | £20 |
Off-peak
Mid-week| Area | Top | Bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | £195 | £165 |
| Mid-range | £135 | £69.50 |
| Budget | £50 | £20 |
Prices are taken from the show's official website and are a guide only — they change without notice.
Where to sit
The Dress Circle is the prime spot at the Gielgud, with superb panoramic views from the centre and an excellent rake. The central Stalls are excellent, but the front rows crane the neck and the shallow rake can let heads get in the way. The Upper Circle's steep rake keeps the view clear, at the cost of distance and legroom. The Balcony, from £20, is the budget choice: distant, cramped and a steep climb.
The Gielgud Theatre's own seating guide, level by level, is below.
Critics
What the critics said
Reviews from the 2025 opening at Gielgud Theatre
9 reviews, 3 with star ratings
The Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish · Read the review at The Telegraph“Much of the show’s capacity to hold an audience enraptured rests on the tender shoulders of the juvenile lead.”
Evening Standard
Nick Curtis · Read the review at Evening Standard“This darker take on the classic musical is all killer no filler”
Time Out
Andrzej Lukowski · Read the review at Time Out“The biggest flaw, though, is one that’s haunted the show for decades: Olivier himself is just pretty bland.”
WhatsOnStage
Sarah Crompton · Read the review at WhatsOnStage“what more could you want?”
London Theatre
Marianka Swain · Read the review at London Theatre“it's well worth picking a pocket or two for this simply glorious musical revival”
Also reviewed by The Guardian, The Times, i and The Stage
Quotes are brief extracts, each with a link to the full review. Star ratings are the outlets’ own; we never work one out from a review’s words. If you publish one of these reviews and would like it removed, email us and we will take it down promptly.
Thinking of going with a group?
There’s a group rate for this show (see the group deal). Register your interest and we’ll try to organise a trip at that rate once enough people are in.
Staying nearby
The nearest hotels to the Gielgud Theatre, for anyone travelling in for a show rather than heading home after it.
- Ham Yard Hotelabout 5 min walk
- The Soho Hotelabout 5 min walk
- Zedwell Piccadilly Circusabout 5 min walk
Hotels.com affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Prices and availability are shown on their site.
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