Old Vic Theatre

Old Vic Theatre

The Cut, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8NB

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Waterloo Underground Station

Closest Train Station

Waterloo, London Waterloo East

The Old Vic Theatre a London theatre in the Waterloo area of London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. It was also the name of a repertory company that was based at the theatre, and provided the basis of the Royal National Theatre company. 

The theatre was founded in 1818 by the actor William Barrymore as the Royal Coburg Theatre. In 1833 it was renamed the Royal Victorian Theatre after the heir to the throne Princess Victoria. In 1880, under the ownership of Emma Cons, it became The Royal Victoria Hall And Coffee Tavern and was run on "strict temperance lines"; by this time it was already known as the "Old Vic". 

With Emma Cons's death in 1912 The Old Vic Theatre passed to her niece Lilian Baylis, who emphasized the Shakespearean repertoire. The Old Vic Company was established in 1929, led by John Gielgud. Between 1925 and 1931, Lilian Baylis championed the re-building of the then-derelict Sadler's Wells Theatre, and established a ballet company under the direction of Ninette de Valois. For a few years the drama and ballet companies rotated between the two theatres, with the ballet eventually becoming permanently based at Sadler's Wells in 1935. 

The theatre was damaged badly during the Blitz, and the war-depleted company spent all its time touring, based in Burnley, Lancashire at the Victoria Theatre during the years 1940 to 1943. In 1944, the company was re-established in London with Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier as its stars, performing mainly at the New Theatre until the Old Vic was ready to re-open in 1950. In 1946, an offshoot of the company was established in Bristol as the Bristol Old Vic. 

In 1963, the Old Vic company was dissolved and the new National Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Laurence Olivier, was based at the Old Vic Theatre, London, until its own building was opened on the South Bank near Waterloo Bridge in 1976. 

After the departure of the National Theatre Company, the Old Vic Theatre continued as a home for classic and new drama, and was significantly restored under the ownership of Toronto department-store entrepreneur ''Honest Ed'' Mirvish during the 1980s. In 1998, the building was bought by a new charitable trust, The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000. In 2000, the production company Criterion Productions was renamed Old Vic Productions plc, though relatively few of its productions are at the theatre.

In 2004, the actor Kevin Spacey was appointed as new artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre Company receiving considerable media attention. Spacey hopes to inject new life into the British theatre industry, and bring British and American theatrical talent to the stage. He will appear in two shows per season, and will perform some directorial duties on other shows. 

The theatre stands in a prominent position on the corner of Waterloo Road and The Cut just south-east of Waterloo Station. 

The Old Vic Theatre London is one of the oldest theatres in the city and famous throughout the English speaking world. Long known as "the actors' theatre", many of the greatest performers of the last century have played on its stage, including Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Sybil Thorndyke, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft, Alec Guiness, Vivien Leigh, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave, Peter O'Toole, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Kevin Spacey.

Old Vic Theatre Seating Plan

The Old Vic Theatre Seating Plan

The capacity of the Old Vic Theatre is 1,067 over 3 levels: Stalls, Dress Circle, and the Lilian Baylis Circle

Machinal is the current production at Old Vic Theatre. The upcoming booking period for Machinal at Old Vic Theatre starts 17/04/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 01/06/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for Machinal start at £17 and are available to book now.

Just For One Day is the current production at Old Vic Theatre.

The Old Vic Theatre is easily accessed by public transport. The nearest underground station is Waterloo (Northern/Bakerloo/Jubilee/Waterloo & City Lines). Blackfriars (District and Circle Lines) and Southwark (Jubilee Line) are also nearby. If arriving to the theatre by train, the nearest train station is Waterloo Station. The theatre is also serviced by local bus routes, 1, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, and 68. IF you are driving to the theatre, the nearest car parks are the National Theatre Car Park and the Union Car Park on Southwark Street.

Play

All My Sons

Arthur Miller's compelling play will star Sally Field, Bill Pullman, Jenna Coleman and Colin Morgan.

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Electra

★★★★★ 'Kristin Scott Thomas is excruciatingly good' The Independent

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As You Like It

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Jitney

August Wilson's Olivier Award winning play come to the Old Vic

Musical

Groundhog Day

Based on the 1990's smash-hit movie, Groundhog Day The Musical returns to the Old Vic!

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Local Hero

Tickets for the West End transfer of Local Hero the musical are available now!

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Remembrance

From the Old Vic series One Voice, Remembrance marks 100 years since the Armistice.

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Pygmalion

Pygmalion is a timeless tale of transformation, identity and the power of language!

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A Number

Lennie James and Paapa Essiedu at The Old Vic

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Noises Off

noises off

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Cause Célèbre

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Philadelphia Story, The

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Of Mice And Men

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Complicit

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High Society

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The Lorax

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Entertainer, The

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Resurrection Blues

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Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Don't miss this star-studded play based on the award-winning novel by Tom Stoppard!

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National Anthems

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Variety Night At The Old Vic

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The Caretaker

The Caretaker tickets

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The Winslow Boy

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Norman Conquests

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Clarence Darrow

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Cloaca

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Democracy

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Elaine Stritch at Liberty

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Flea in Her Ear

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Future Conditional

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Sweet Bird Of Youth

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Inherit The Wind

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Soldiers Tale, The

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Moon for the Misbegotten, A

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Hedda Gabler

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Democracy

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Six Degrees of Separation

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RSC: Coriolanus

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Future Conditional

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RSC: The Merry Wives of Windsor

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Design for Living

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Gaslight

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The Hairy Ape

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Cherry Orchard, The

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Jekyll & Hyde

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The Hairy Ape

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Woyzeck

One of the most extraordinary plays ever written coming to the West End!

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Playboy Of The Western World

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Dr. Seuss's The Lorax

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees!”

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Rise

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Hamlet

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Dancing at Lughnasa

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Richard II

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Speed the Plow

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Messiah - Scenes From A Crucifix

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All About My Mother

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The Master Builder

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Electra

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Eureka Day

Jonathon Spector's off-Broadway comedy hit comes to London's Old Vic.

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Present Laughter

Noel Coward's Present Laughter returns to the London stage in a new revival starring Andrew Scott at the Old Vic

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The Divide

The Divide is a vision of a dystopian future defined by brutal repression and forbidden love.

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Endgame / Rough For Theatre II

Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe stars alongside Alan Cumming in the Old Vic's double bill Endgame / Rough For Theatre II

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Fortune's Fool

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Lungs

Don't miss Claire Foy and Matt Smith star in Duncan Macmillan's Lungs. Tickets available soon!

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Real Thing, The

Dance

17c

Samuel Pepys wants to tell us everything.

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The American Clock

A ground-breaking play by Arthur Miller will be opening in the Old Vic.

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The 47th

Mike Bartlett's new play makes its world premiere at London's Old Vic

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4000 Miles

Timothée Chalamet and Eileen Atkins star in 4000 Miles at London's Old Vic

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Sea Wall

Multi-award winning actor Andrew Scott celebrates 200 years of The Old Vic with Sea Wall

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A Very Expensive Poison

Award-winning playwright Lucy Prebble's new murder inspired drama A Very Expensive Poison to receive world premiere at the Old Vic

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Fanny & Alexander

‘There should be no shame in us taking pleasure in our little lives.’

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Mood Music

Ben Chaplin stars in the World Premiere of Mood Music.

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Sylvia

Starring Beverley Knight, the epic musical celebrates feminist icon Sylvia Pankhurst.

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Twelfth Night

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A Christmas Carol

Don't be a Scrooge, celebrate the season with A Christmas Carol tickets!