1. Photo: Manuel Harlan
    Photo: Manuel Harlan

    The Old Vic

  2. Photo: David Jensen
    Photo: David Jensen

    The Old Vic

  3. Photo: David Jensen
    Photo: David Jensen

    The Old Vic bar

  • Theatre | West End
  • Waterloo
  • Recommended

Old Vic

One of London's oldest theatres, the Old Vic offers big, serious plays, big, serious stars and a few musicals and surprises.
Ella Doyle
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Time Out says

What is it?

The Old Vic is an iconic theatre right next to Waterloo rail station that’s been around since 1818. It has a lively history, and was once famous for staging all of Shakespeare’s plays between 1914 and 1923 (the first theatre to do so). In 1963 it became the first home of the National Theatre, which finally moved to its purpose-built South Bank digs in 1976. After a tumultuous few decades, the ‘modern’ Old Vic launched in 2003, and is now under the leadership of Matthew Warchus, whose programming constitutes an eclectic array of shows, from musical theatre to modern classic adaptations (it’s especially famous these days for Jack Thorne’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol, for example). It’s been home to theatre stars Judi Dench, Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith, to name a few. 

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, yes. This is, in our opinion, one of the best theatres in London, a blend of star-studded casts, large-scale production and a really beautiful historic theatre space. One-off tourist or life-long local, The Old Vic is a big ol’ fun London night out for families, pals or as a solo eve to see some seriously good theatre. Plus, The Old Vic is worth visiting even if you’re not seeing a show; take advantage of good wifi at the café or check out its bar, also open to non-theatre-goers (and open till 2am Thurs-Sun). Aside from the classics (reds, whites, rosés, Camden beer and Tony’s Chocoloney) there’s seasonal cocktails, like the winter Aperol Spritz featuring ginger beer instead of soda, which I think is a stroke of genius. 

Tickets, accessibility and booking

Ticket prices here really depend on the show, but generally they’re pretty affordable, ranging from £10-20 to £100+ for the really good seats or for peak-time performances. The Old Vic is fully wheelchair accessible (as is its downstairs bar), and it runs accessible performances (BSL interpreted, relaxed viewings, etc). Tickets can be booked online or over the phone, and you get out of the booking fee if you’re a member of Old Vic Together. 

Where’s good to eat near the Old Vic?

You’re 10 minutes’ walk from Forza Wine at the National Theatre, for great cocktails, Italian small plates and a very long wine list. Or if you’re craving good, hearty pub food, head to the Anchor & Hope for nose-to-tail cooking, headed up by St John’s old chef team. For drinks, you’re five minutes from Scootercaffé, a seriously cool retro café/bar with mismatched vintage furniture, a sultry basement and twinkling jazz music. Or try the very swanky Lyaness for pricey but delicious cocktails.

Can’t get enough? Here are the best theatre shows in London, handpicked by our theatre critic Andrzej Lukowski

Details

Address
103 The Cut
Waterloo Rd
London
SE1 8NB
Transport:
Tube: Waterloo; Rail: Waterloo
Opening hours:
Bar open 6pm-midnight Mon and Tue; 1pm-midnight Wed; 6pm-2am Thu and Fri; 1pm-2am Sat
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What’s on

A Christmas Carol

4 out of 5 stars
This review is from 2023, when Christopher Eccleston played Scrooge. In 2024 John Simm will take on the role. Sure, it’s nearly December, but it’s not really Christmas in London until there’s a few things happening. Regent Street lights. Uncopywrited Mariah Carey covers blaring in Superdrug. Bond Street station full of teenagers necking tinnies before Winter Wonderland.  And, of course, the return of ‘A Christmas Carol’ to the Old Vic. Jack Thorne’s adaptation premiered in 2017, and hasn’t showed signs of stopping since: it has played every single year since (including 2020) with a series of star-studded Scrooges, from Rhys Ifans to last year’s Owen Teale. This time, Scrooge is Christoper Eccleston off the telly. Your ma is swooning.  To put it simply, the Old Vic ‘Christmas Carol’ is a good laugh, which is lucky, because there are so many adaptations of Dickens’s story in theatres come Christmas that each needs a USP.  Not much changes year to year, and that’s why we love it; there’s overpriced mulled wine for sale, ol’ town folk handing out free mince pies to the crowd, potatoes and carrots thrown on a slide to the stage, and even a whole bit where it starts snowing.  Eccleston takes a little while to warm up but is a fantastic Scrooge once he gets there. His performance feels more sincere than the last version I saw (Paterson Joseph, who brought a bit more wackiness to the role), but he’s most dynamic (and most himself) during Scrooge’s more caricatured moments, and the jo
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